The Holiday Season Can Be a Living Hell for Misophonia Sufferers.
One young woman anticipates seeing her relatives during the festive period, but notes one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her earplugs - particularly at Christmas dinner.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year is a especially challenging period as the noises of people eating, sipping loudly and nose-blowing cause her profound anxiety.
"I get this wave of sudden panic, my entire being will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these noises."
Lottie has suffered from misophonia since she was 16 and for her that causes the Christmas time "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, particularly those produced by those around you.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Experts reported a significant portion of people suffer from it.
Typically it's sounds connected to bodily functions that cause distress, as well as things like chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "You encounter so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"My family are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's easy to understand why the most wonderful time of the year can quickly turn into a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Noises that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a strong emotional response that can even cause them skipping events entirely.
She, a university student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity for over a decade, explains the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to manage the meal. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to escape problematic noises.
She notes her condition is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There's an expectation to spend time with loved ones, and I want to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then panic will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."
Several Strategies to Cope
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, based on advice from clinical psychologists.
- Imagine an Alternative: Creative thinking is essential. Try to associate the triggering sound causing distress with a neutral concept. So for example, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a game with the culprit. For example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt joining in. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not at their best or could be emotional. By doing this is changing the meaning of the sound. While the sound doesn't change, your reaction of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
