Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
A 23-year-old anticipates seeing her loved ones over the holidays, but admits one of the only ways she'll cope is by wearing her noise-cancelling devices - especially during the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year can be a especially challenging time as the sounds of family members munching, slurping and sniffling trigger profound anxiety.
"There's this sensation of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tighten and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to manage these triggers."
The individual has lived with sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that causes the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, especially noises produced by individuals.
It's surprisingly common in the UK. Researchers discovered nearly 20% people suffer from it.
Often it's noises linked to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, along with examples such as crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
A Source of Dread
Lottie says: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a constant struggle of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the traditionally happy season can transform into a stressful ordeal for sufferers.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a visceral feeling that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced misophonia for over a decade, states her strategy is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. Usually, she would frequently go in a different room to minimize problematic noises.
She says her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"People assume you to be around family, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"I feel as if this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then the stress response will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being unreasonable and melodramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Cope
For those affected then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Picture a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is essential. Attempt to link the triggering sound affecting you with an unrelated image. So for example, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the culprit. For instance, if someone is eating noisily attempt joining in. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
- Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is behaving that way. For example if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise remains identical, your interpretation of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
