Christmas Can Be a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.
Lottie is looking forward to being with her family this Christmas, but notes a primary method she'll cope is by wearing her hearing protection - particularly at the main festive feast.
In her case, this time of year is a particularly difficult season as the noises of other people chewing, slurping and sniffling make her feel intense distress.
"There's this wave of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tighten and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these noises."
The individual has lived with this condition from a young age and for her that renders the holiday period "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, notably sounds produced by those around you.
It is prevalent across the population. Researchers reported nearly 20% people experience it.
Frequently it's sounds connected to eating or drinking that cause distress, including things like chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "There are so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid it.
"My relatives 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 make sure everyone else is happy."
So it's easy to understand why the supposedly joyous period can rapidly become a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Noises that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a visceral feeling that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a young adult, who has experienced misophonia from childhood, states her strategy is to put her earphones in to cope. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to avoid triggering sounds.
She explains her sensitivity is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "hard".
"There's an expectation to be around family, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"It's like this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then panic will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, according to experts.
- Imagine Something Else: Imagination is essential. Attempt to link the particular sound bothering you with something completely different. So for example, try to picture someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the person. As an example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at mimicking the sound. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Develop a Narrative: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is doing it. So if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not at their best or are troubled. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. Even though the noise doesn't change, your reaction of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
