The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman anticipates being with her loved ones during the festive period, but notes one of the only ways she'll cope is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - especially during the main festive feast.
For her, this time of year is a notably tough time as the sounds of people eating, drinking noisily and sniffling make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this wave of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to manage these sounds."
She has experienced this condition from a young age and for her that makes the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, particularly those made by those around you.
It is prevalent amongst adults. Researchers reported nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Typically it's noises associated with eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, as well as examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
Lottie says: "There are so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful season can transform into a source of agony for affected individuals.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a powerful reaction that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a university student, who has struggled with misophonia from childhood, states her strategy is to use headphones to manage the meal. Usually, she would often retreat in a quiet area to minimize distressing triggers.
She notes her sensitivity is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There's an expectation to socialize with family, and I want to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"It's like this sudden rage comes 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 difficult and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
Three Ways to Cope
For those affected then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Imagine Something Else: Creative thinking is essential. Attempt to link the triggering sound causing distress with a neutral concept. So for example, try to envision someone's slurping is just a waterfall. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a competition involving the source. For example, if someone is eating noisily attempt mimicking the sound. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Create a Scenario: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is doing it. So if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not in good health or maybe they're upset. By doing this is re-framing the context of the sound. While the sound remains identical, your interpretation of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
