Yuletide Can Be a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman is looking forward to seeing her family during the festive period, but admits a key strategy she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her earplugs - particularly at the holiday meal.
In her case, the holidays is a especially challenging period as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, sipping loudly and breathing heavily make her feel intense distress.
"I get this sensation of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just freeze and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to stop these noises."
Lottie has experienced this condition since she was 16 and for her that renders the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, notably sounds produced by those around you.
It's surprisingly common across the population. Researchers reported nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Frequently it's noises linked to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, along with things like crunching, breathing, and pen clicking.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "You encounter so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you dread it.
"My family are supportive, 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 supposedly joyous season can transform into a source of agony for sufferers.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can provoke a strong emotional response that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a university student, who has experienced misophonia for over a decade, says currently her plan is to listen to music to get through dinner. Typically, she would frequently go in a quiet area to escape triggering sounds.
She explains her condition is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "hard".
"There is pressure to spend time with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then panic will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."
Three Ways to Cope
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, according to specialists.
- Imagine Something Else: Imagination is key. Attempt to link the particular sound affecting you with something completely different. So for example, try to picture someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. By doing this 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. For example, if someone is eating noisily try joining in. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. For example if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not in good health or are troubled. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. While the noise doesn't change, your understanding of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
