The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
A 23-year-old hopes for being with her loved ones over the holidays, but admits a primary method she'll endure is by using her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at Christmas dinner.
For the 23-year-old, Christmas can be a especially challenging period as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, slurping and sniffling make her feel intense distress.
"There's this sensation of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just freeze and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these noises."
She has suffered from sound sensitivity from a young age and for her that renders the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, notably sounds made by other people.
The condition is widespread across the population. Experts discovered a significant portion of people are affected by it.
Frequently it's noises linked to eating or drinking that cause distress, along with things like crunching, breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
Lottie says: "I face so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"My family are aware, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to guarantee the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy time of the year can quickly turn into a source of agony for sufferers.
Noises that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can provoke a strong emotional response that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.
The student, a university student, who has dealt with misophonia from childhood, explains currently her plan is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to avoid distressing triggers.
She notes her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "hard".
"There's an expectation to be around loved ones, and I wish to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"I feel as if this uncontrollable anger comes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then the stress response will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."
Three Ways to Manage
For those affected then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, according to specialists.
- Visualise an Alternative: Mental imagery is crucial. Attempt to link the specific noise affecting you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Use Humor: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge involving the source. For instance, if someone is eating noisily try mimicking the sound. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is behaving that way. So if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not in good health or could be emotional. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. Even though the noise stays the same, your interpretation of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
