Christmas Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman anticipates spending time with her relatives this Christmas, but admits a primary method she'll endure is by relying on her hearing protection - notably for the holiday meal.
For the 23-year-old, Christmas is a notably tough time as the noises of people eating, drinking noisily and nose-blowing trigger extremely uncomfortable.
"There's this sensation of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tense up and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these sounds."
Lottie has experienced this condition from a young age and for her that causes the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, particularly those produced by those around you.
It is prevalent in the UK. Researchers found almost one in five people are affected by it.
Typically it's noises linked to bodily functions that cause distress, along with things like chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous time of the year can quickly turn into a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a strong emotional response that can even cause them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a university student, who has dealt with misophonia from childhood, states currently her plan is to listen to music to manage the meal. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to avoid triggering sounds.
She says her sensitivity is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "hard".
"There's an expectation to spend time with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then panic will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Handle It
For those affected then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Picture a Different Scenario: Imagination is essential. Try to associate the specific noise affecting you with something completely different. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. This technique is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a game with the person. As an example, if someone is eating noisily attempt joining in. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that 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 shifts from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
