The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman is looking forward to being with her loved ones this Christmas, but admits a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by using her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, Christmas is a especially challenging period as the noises of family members munching, sipping loudly and nose-blowing trigger intense distress.
"There's this wave of instant dread, my entire being will just tighten and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to manage these sounds."
Lottie has experienced misophonia from a young age and for her that renders the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, notably sounds produced by individuals.
The condition is widespread in the UK. A study found nearly 20% people experience it.
Frequently it's noises associated with bodily functions that trigger a reaction, including things like crunching, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful period can transform into a stressful ordeal for sufferers.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can cause a visceral feeling that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a university student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity from childhood, states her strategy is to use headphones to manage the meal. Typically, she would often retreat in a separate space to escape distressing triggers.
She explains her sensitivity is worse around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to spend time with family, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will activate.
"It can come across as if I'm being unreasonable and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
Three Ways to Cope
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, according to experts.
- Picture Something Else: Mental imagery is essential. Try to associate the particular sound affecting you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the culprit. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt joining in. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Create a Scenario: One more method is to try to create a little story about why the person creating the sound is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not feeling well or are troubled. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the noise stays the same, your understanding of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
