The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.
One young woman hopes for spending time with her relatives this Christmas, but notes a key strategy she'll endure is by using her noise-cancelling devices - notably for Christmas dinner.
For her, Christmas often feels like a notably tough time as the noises of other people chewing, drinking noisily and nose-blowing make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this wave of sudden panic, my entire being will just freeze and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these sounds."
Lottie has lived with this condition from a young age and for her that causes the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, especially noises made by individuals.
The condition is widespread across the population. Experts reported a significant portion of people experience it.
Typically it's sounds linked to bodily functions that cause distress, including things like chewing, breathing, and pen clicking.
Triggering Stress
She explains: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to guarantee the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful season can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for affected individuals.
Noises that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a visceral feeling that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a young adult, who has struggled with sound sensitivity since aged 10, says her strategy is to listen to music to manage the meal. Typically, she would frequently go in a quiet area to escape distressing triggers.
She explains her sensitivity is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"There's an expectation to spend time with family, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"I feel as if this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."
Three Ways to Manage
If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by clinical psychologists.
- Picture a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is essential. Work on connecting the triggering sound affecting 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 isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a game with the culprit. As an example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at mimicking the sound. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is having to make that sound. For example if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not in good health or could be emotional. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise stays the same, your interpretation of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
