The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman anticipates being with her relatives during the festive period, but says a key strategy she'll cope is by wearing her earplugs - particularly at Christmas dinner.
For the 23-year-old, Christmas often feels like a especially challenging period as the noises of other people chewing, slurping and nose-blowing cause her profound anxiety.
"There's this sensation of sudden panic, my entire being will just tighten and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these sounds."
Lottie has experienced this condition since she was 16 and for her that makes the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to particular auditory triggers, especially noises made by those around you.
It's surprisingly common across the population. Experts discovered almost one in five people suffer from it.
Typically it's noises associated with eating or drinking that cause distress, as well as things like crunching, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
She explains: "There are so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the most wonderful time of the year can transform into a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can trigger a strong emotional response that can even result in them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced sound sensitivity since aged 10, states her strategy is to put her earphones in to cope. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to minimize triggering sounds.
She says her sensitivity is more intense around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to be around loved ones, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then the stress response will take over.
"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
A Few Techniques to Manage
For those affected then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by clinical psychologists.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is essential. Try to associate the specific noise bothering you with something completely different. So for example, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a competition with the culprit. For example, if someone is crunching loudly try mimicking the sound. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is doing it. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not at their best or are troubled. By doing this is re-framing the context of the sound. Although the sound remains identical, your interpretation of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
