Christmas Transforms Into a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
Lottie hopes for spending time with her family over the holidays, but says a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her hearing protection - particularly at the holiday meal.
For her, this time of year can be a especially challenging period as the noises of people eating, slurping and sniffling make her feel intense distress.
"I get this feeling of sudden panic, my entire being will just tense up and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these sounds."
She has lived with this condition from a young age and for her that renders the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to particular auditory triggers, especially noises produced by other people.
The condition is widespread in the UK. A study reported a significant portion of people are affected by it.
Often it's sounds connected to bodily functions that cause distress, along with things like crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you fear it.
"My relatives are understanding, but I'm very aware 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 the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy period can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for sufferers.
Noises that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can provoke a visceral feeling that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.
She, a university student, who has experienced misophonia since aged 10, explains the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to cope. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to minimize triggering sounds.
She explains her condition is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to spend time with family, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"I feel as if this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then the stress response will kick in.
"To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Handle It
For those affected then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by clinical psychologists.
- Visualise Something Else: Creative thinking is crucial. Try to associate the particular sound bothering 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 affecting you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a game with the person. For example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt joining in. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to create a little story about the reason someone creating the sound is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not in good health or could be emotional. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. While the sound doesn't change, your interpretation of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
