Christmas Transforms Into a Living Hell for Misophonia Sufferers.
A 23-year-old is looking forward to spending time with her relatives during the festive period, but notes a key strategy she'll endure is by using her earplugs - particularly at the holiday meal.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays can be a especially challenging time as the noises of people eating, sipping loudly and sniffling make her feel profound anxiety.
"I experience this wave of instant dread, my entire being will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to stop these noises."
Lottie has suffered from misophonia from a young age and for her that makes the holiday period "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, notably sounds produced by other people.
It's surprisingly common in the UK. Researchers found nearly 20% people suffer from it.
Often it's noises connected to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, including examples such as chewing, breathing, and pen clicking.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you fear it.
"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to guarantee the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous time of the year can transform into a living nightmare for sufferers.
Noises that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a visceral feeling that can even result in them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a young adult, who has experienced misophonia since aged 10, says currently her plan is to listen to music to cope. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to avoid problematic noises.
She explains her misophonia is more intense around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"There's an expectation to spend time with loved ones, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"The sensation is this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then panic will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Cope
If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, based on advice from experts.
- Imagine Something Else: Imagination is key. Try to associate the particular sound bothering you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to envision someone's slurping is just a waterfall. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a game involving the source. For instance, if someone is eating noisily attempt joining in. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an engaged person. 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, perhaps they're not at their best or could be emotional. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. While the noise doesn't change, your interpretation of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
