The Holiday Season Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
Lottie anticipates spending time with her loved ones during the festive period, but notes a key strategy she'll endure is by using her earplugs - particularly at the main festive feast.
For her, this time of year is a particularly difficult season as the sounds of family members munching, sipping loudly and sniffling cause her profound anxiety.
"I experience this wave of instant dread, my entire being will just tighten and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to manage these triggers."
She has experienced misophonia since she was 16 and for her that causes the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, notably sounds made by other people.
It is prevalent amongst adults. Experts reported almost one in five people are affected by it.
Typically it's sounds linked to eating or drinking that cause distress, as well as things like chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "There are so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful period can quickly turn into a living nightmare for affected individuals.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can provoke a strong emotional response that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.
She, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity for over a decade, says currently her plan is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to minimize problematic noises.
She explains her condition is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to spend time with family, and I wish to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"I feel as if this uncontrollable anger takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and immediately start crying and then panic will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being unreasonable and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
Three Ways to Handle It
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Imagine an Alternative: Mental imagery is crucial. Try to associate the particular sound affecting you with something completely different. So for example, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the person. For example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at joining in. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an engaged person. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone creating the sound is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not at their best or maybe they're upset. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. Although the noise stays the same, your understanding of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
