Christmas Can Be a Living Hell for Misophonia Sufferers.
A 23-year-old hopes for being with her loved ones this Christmas, but says a key strategy she'll cope is by wearing her hearing protection - especially during Christmas dinner.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays can be a especially challenging season as the sounds of family members munching, sipping loudly and breathing heavily make her feel profound anxiety.
"There's this feeling of sudden panic, my every muscle will just tense up and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to manage these sounds."
The individual has suffered from this condition since she was 16 and for her that causes the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, particularly those produced by individuals.
It's surprisingly common in the UK. Researchers discovered a significant portion of people experience it.
Frequently it's sounds linked to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, as well as examples such as crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
Lottie says: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.
"My family are aware, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure everyone else is happy."
So it's clear why the most wonderful period can quickly turn into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a strong emotional response that can even cause them skipping events entirely.
She, a young adult, who has experienced misophonia since aged 10, states the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to cope. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to minimize problematic noises.
She notes her misophonia is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to spend time with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"The sensation is this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then panic will kick in.
"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."
A Few Techniques to Manage
If you suffer then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Imagination is essential. Try to associate the specific noise affecting you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to picture someone's slurping is just a waterfall. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a competition involving the source. For example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt copying the noise. Through participation, rather than 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 somewhat less sensitive.
- Develop a Narrative: Another technique is to try to create a little story about the reason someone making the noise is behaving that way. So if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not in good health or could be emotional. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. While the noise remains identical, your interpretation of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
