The Holiday Season Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
Lottie is looking forward to seeing her loved ones over the holidays, but says a primary method she'll endure is by using her hearing protection - especially during the holiday meal.
In her case, Christmas can be a notably tough period as the auditory triggers of family members munching, sipping loudly and breathing heavily make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this sensation of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to manage these triggers."
She has suffered from sound sensitivity for several years and for her that makes the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, particularly those coming from those around you.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. A study reported almost one in five people experience it.
Frequently it's sounds connected to bodily functions that cause distress, along with things like chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you want to avoid it.
"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the most wonderful season can rapidly become a living nightmare for sufferers.
Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a powerful reaction that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a young adult, who has struggled with sound sensitivity for over a decade, states the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Usually, she would frequently go in a separate space to escape distressing triggers.
She says her misophonia is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to spend time with family, and I want to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then the stress response will kick in.
"To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and overreacting, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Handle It
For those affected then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, based on advice from specialists.
- Imagine Something Else: Mental imagery is crucial. Work on connecting the particular sound affecting you with something completely different. For instance, try to envision someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the culprit. For instance, if someone is eating noisily try mimicking the sound. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
- Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is behaving that way. For example if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not at their best or are troubled. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the noise remains identical, your interpretation of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
