Yuletide Transforms Into a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.
Lottie is looking forward to spending time with her family during the festive period, but notes a key strategy she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her earplugs - especially during the holiday meal.
In her case, this time of year can be a particularly difficult time as the noises of people eating, drinking noisily and breathing heavily cause her intense distress.
"I get this sensation of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just tense up and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to stop these noises."
She has experienced sound sensitivity from a young age and for her that renders the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, especially noises made by other people.
The condition is widespread across the population. Researchers reported nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Frequently it's sounds connected to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, including 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 daunting and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to guarantee the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous season can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a strong emotional response that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced misophonia from childhood, says currently her plan is to listen to music to manage the meal. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to escape problematic noises.
She notes her condition is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to socialize with family, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"It's like this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's hard to explain if you haven't felt it."
Several Strategies to Manage
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, based on advice from specialists.
- Imagine Something Else: Creative thinking is key. Attempt to link the triggering sound affecting you with something completely different. For instance, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. By doing this is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a challenge involving the source. For example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at joining in. Through participation, rather than 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: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone creating the sound is doing it. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not feeling well or could be emotional. By doing this is re-framing the context of the sound. Although the noise stays the same, your interpretation of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
