Christmas Transforms Into a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.
Lottie hopes for spending time with her relatives this Christmas, but admits one of the only ways she'll endure is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - notably for Christmas dinner.
For her, the holidays often feels like a notably tough period as the auditory triggers of people eating, drinking noisily and breathing heavily cause her intense distress.
"I get this feeling of instant dread, my whole body will just freeze and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these noises."
Lottie has lived with this condition for several years and for her that causes the Christmas time "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, notably sounds coming from those around you.
The condition is widespread amongst adults. A study discovered nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Frequently it's noises linked to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, including things like chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
Triggering Stress
She explains: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"My family are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to ensure others enjoy themselves."
So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous season can quickly turn into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can provoke a strong emotional response that can even result in them skipping events entirely.
She, a university student, who has experienced misophonia since aged 10, states currently her plan is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Usually, she would often retreat in a separate space to minimize distressing triggers.
She notes her sensitivity is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"People assume you to spend time with family, and I want to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"I feel as if this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey 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, based on advice from clinical psychologists.
- Imagine an Alternative: Creative thinking is essential. Attempt to link the specific noise causing distress with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a challenge involving the source. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly try joining in. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: Another technique is to try to create a little story about why the person creating the sound is doing it. So if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not in good health or maybe they're upset. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise doesn't change, your interpretation of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
