The Holiday Season Can Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
Lottie anticipates being with her relatives over the holidays, but notes one of the only ways she'll cope is by relying on her hearing protection - especially during the main festive feast.
For her, this time of year can be a particularly difficult season as the sounds of people eating, drinking noisily and sniffling make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this feeling of sudden panic, my entire being will just tighten and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to manage these sounds."
The individual has suffered from this condition from a young age and for her that renders the holiday period "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, particularly those made by those around you.
It is prevalent across the population. Researchers found almost one in five people experience it.
Frequently it's sounds connected to bodily functions that lead to discomfort, as well as things like crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "I face so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure everyone else is happy."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy time of the year can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for affected individuals.
Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can cause a strong emotional response that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.
She, a university student, who has struggled with misophonia since aged 10, states her strategy is to listen to music to get through dinner. Usually, she would frequently go in a separate space to avoid triggering sounds.
She notes her condition is worse around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to socialize with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"It's like this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then the stress response will activate.
"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
Several Strategies to Manage
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Picture an Alternative: Creative thinking is key. Attempt to link the particular sound causing distress with a neutral concept. So for example, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. By doing this is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a game with the culprit. For example, if someone is eating noisily attempt mimicking the sound. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone creating the sound is doing it. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not in good health or maybe they're upset. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. While the sound doesn't change, your interpretation of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
