Christmas Often Proves to Be a Living Hell for Misophonia Sufferers.
One young woman anticipates seeing her family over the holidays, but notes one of the only ways she'll cope is by wearing her earplugs - notably for Christmas dinner.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays can be a especially challenging period as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, slurping and sniffling make her feel intense distress.
"I get this wave of instant dread, my entire being will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to manage these sounds."
She has experienced this condition for several years and for her that renders the holiday period "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, especially noises coming from individuals.
It is prevalent amongst adults. Experts found almost one in five people experience it.
Frequently it's sounds associated with bodily functions that trigger a reaction, including things like chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
Lottie says: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you dread it.
"My family are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to guarantee the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the most wonderful period can quickly turn into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can trigger a visceral feeling that can even cause them avoiding social settings altogether.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with misophonia since aged 10, states her strategy is to use headphones to cope. Typically, she would often retreat in a quiet area to escape distressing triggers.
She notes her condition is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to be around family, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"I feel as if this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel stressed and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Manage
For those affected then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, based on advice from specialists.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Imagination is key. Try to associate the specific noise causing distress with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to envision someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the culprit. For instance, if someone is eating noisily attempt copying the noise. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not at their best or could be emotional. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. Although the noise stays the same, your understanding of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
