Christmas Transforms Into a Living Hell for Misophonia Sufferers.
One young woman is looking forward to being with her loved ones this Christmas, but says a primary method she'll cope is by using her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the main festive feast.
In her case, Christmas can be a notably tough time as the noises of other people chewing, slurping and nose-blowing cause her intense distress.
"I experience this sensation of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these noises."
Lottie has lived with sound sensitivity from a young age and for her that renders the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, notably sounds produced by individuals.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. A study discovered a significant portion of people experience it.
Typically it's sounds associated with bodily functions that cause distress, including examples such as crunching, breathing, and pen clicking.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "There are so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to make sure everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful period can rapidly become a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can trigger a strong emotional response that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a university student, who has dealt with misophonia from childhood, states the approach she intends to use is to use headphones to cope. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to minimize distressing triggers.
She explains her condition is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to be around loved ones, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"It's like this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."
Several Strategies to Cope
If you suffer then there are various strategies you can attempt to manage the situation, based on advice from clinical psychologists.
- Visualise a Different Scenario: Imagination is essential. Try to associate the triggering sound causing distress with an unrelated image. For instance, 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: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the culprit. For example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at joining in. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Create a Scenario: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is doing it. So if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not in good health or could be emotional. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. While the sound remains identical, your reaction of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
