Yuletide Transforms Into a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
A 23-year-old hopes for seeing her family over the holidays, but says a primary method she'll cope is by relying on her hearing protection - particularly at the main festive feast.
For her, this time of year often feels like a especially challenging season as the noises of people eating, slurping and sniffling cause her profound anxiety.
"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 manage these sounds."
The individual has experienced misophonia for several years and for her that renders the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, particularly those produced by those around you.
It's surprisingly common in the UK. Researchers reported a significant portion of people experience it.
Often it's sounds linked to bodily functions that lead to discomfort, along with examples such as chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.
Triggering Stress
Lottie says: "There are so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous period can transform into a living nightmare for sufferers.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a powerful reaction that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a university student, who has experienced sound sensitivity since aged 10, states her strategy is to listen to music to manage the meal. Typically, she would often retreat in a separate space to escape distressing triggers.
She notes her condition is more pronounced around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "hard".
"There's an expectation to socialize with loved ones, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"It's like this uncontrollable anger takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then panic will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."
Three Ways to Cope
For those affected then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, according to specialists.
- Visualise an Alternative: Creative thinking is crucial. Try to associate the specific noise causing distress with an unrelated image. So for example, try to envision someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Try a Competition: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a competition involving the source. For instance, if someone is eating noisily attempt mimicking the sound. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: Another technique is to try to invent a reason about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. By doing this is changing the meaning of the sound. While the sound doesn't change, your reaction of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
