The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers.
One young woman is looking forward to seeing her family this Christmas, but notes a primary method she'll endure is by wearing her hearing protection - notably for the holiday meal.
For her, this time of year is a especially challenging period as the noises of family members munching, drinking noisily and breathing heavily make her feel intense distress.
"There's this wave of instant dread, my whole body will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to stop these sounds."
Lottie has experienced sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that makes the holiday period "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, notably sounds produced by other people.
It's surprisingly common in the UK. Researchers reported almost one in five people suffer from it.
Typically it's sounds linked to eating or drinking that cause distress, including examples such as crunching, breathing, and foot tapping.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "There are so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you dread it.
"My family are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy season can transform into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a strong emotional response that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a university student, who has dealt with misophonia for over a decade, explains currently her plan is to put her earphones in to cope. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to minimize problematic noises.
She notes her condition is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "hard".
"People assume you to be around loved ones, and I want to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Manage
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Imagine Something Else: Mental imagery is key. Attempt to link the triggering sound causing distress with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. The goal 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 game with the person. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt joining in. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone creating the sound is doing it. For example if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not in good health or could be emotional. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. Although the noise remains identical, your interpretation of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
