Christmas Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
A 23-year-old hopes for being with her relatives over the holidays, but says one of the only ways she'll endure is by relying on her earplugs - particularly at the main festive feast.
For her, the holidays is a especially challenging time as the sounds of people eating, drinking noisily and sniffling make her feel profound anxiety.
"I get this wave of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to manage these sounds."
Lottie has lived with misophonia for several years and for her that renders the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, notably sounds made by individuals.
The condition is widespread across the population. Experts found a significant portion of people experience it.
Often it's sounds linked to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, including things like chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
Lottie says: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you dread it.
"My family are supportive, 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 ensure others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous period can transform into a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Noises that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can cause a visceral feeling that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
Jenna, a university student, who has struggled with misophonia for over a decade, explains her strategy is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. On any other day, she would often retreat in a separate space to escape problematic noises.
She says her condition is more pronounced around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to socialize with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"It's like this uncontrollable anger comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then panic will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Manage
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, based on advice from specialists.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Imagination is key. Attempt to link the triggering sound affecting you with something completely different. As an illustration, try to picture someone's slurping is just a waterfall. This technique is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a game with the culprit. As an example, if someone is eating noisily attempt mimicking the sound. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an engaged person. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Develop a Narrative: Another technique is to try to invent a reason about why the person making the noise is doing it. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not in good health or could be emotional. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the sound stays the same, your understanding of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
