The Holiday Season Can Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman hopes for spending time with her loved ones this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by using her hearing protection - especially during Christmas dinner.
For her, this time of year can be a particularly difficult time as the auditory triggers of people eating, sipping loudly and nose-blowing make her feel profound anxiety.
"I experience this sensation of sudden panic, my entire being will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these sounds."
Lottie has lived with sound sensitivity from a young age and for her that makes the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, especially noises coming from those around you.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Experts reported a significant portion of people experience it.
Often it's noises associated with eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, as well as things like chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"My relatives are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to guarantee everyone else is happy."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous season can rapidly become a living nightmare for affected individuals.
Noises that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can trigger a strong emotional response that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a university student, who has struggled with misophonia from childhood, explains her strategy is to use headphones to cope. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to escape triggering sounds.
She says her condition is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to spend time with family, and I want to, but it's draining.
"I feel as if this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then panic will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
Three Ways to Handle It
If you suffer then there are various strategies you can attempt to manage the situation, according to experts.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Imagination is crucial. Try to associate the specific noise affecting you with an unrelated image. So for example, try to picture someone's slurping is just a waterfall. This technique is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a competition involving the source. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about the reason someone making the noise is behaving that way. So if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not feeling well or maybe they're upset. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the sound doesn't change, your understanding of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
