Christmas Transforms Into a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
A 23-year-old is looking forward to seeing her loved ones during the festive period, but says a primary method she'll endure is by using her noise-cancelling devices - especially during the main festive feast.
In her case, Christmas often feels like a notably tough period as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, sipping loudly and sniffling trigger extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this wave of instant dread, my entire being will just tighten and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these sounds."
Lottie has suffered from sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that causes the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, especially noises made by those around you.
The condition is widespread across the population. Researchers found almost one in five people experience it.
Frequently it's sounds associated with eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, as well as things like chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
She explains: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful season can rapidly become a stressful ordeal for affected individuals.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a strong emotional response that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.
The student, a young adult, who has struggled with misophonia from childhood, says currently her plan is to put her earphones in to cope. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to escape triggering sounds.
She says her condition is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to spend time with family, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being unreasonable and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
Three Ways to Manage
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can attempt to manage the situation, according to clinical psychologists.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is key. Try to associate the specific noise bothering you with something completely different. For instance, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge involving the source. For instance, if someone is eating noisily try joining in. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Although the noise remains identical, your reaction of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
