The Holiday Season Can Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman is looking forward to seeing her loved ones over the holidays, but says one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her earplugs - particularly at the holiday meal.
In her case, Christmas often feels like a notably tough time as the noises of other people chewing, slurping and sniffling trigger extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this wave of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these triggers."
The individual has suffered from misophonia from a young age and for her that causes the holiday period "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, particularly those made by other people.
The condition is widespread in the UK. Experts reported almost one in five people experience it.
Typically it's sounds associated with eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, along with examples such as chewing, breathing, and pen clicking.
Triggering Stress
Lottie says: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the traditionally happy time of the year can quickly turn into a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Triggers that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can cause a powerful reaction that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.
She, a young adult, who has dealt with sound sensitivity for over a decade, states the approach she intends to use is to use headphones to get through dinner. Typically, she would frequently go in a quiet area to avoid problematic noises.
She says her condition is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"People assume you to be around loved ones, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"It's like this uncontrollable anger takes hold, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then panic will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
Three Ways to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, according to experts.
- Picture a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is essential. Attempt to link the specific noise affecting you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to picture someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a competition with the person. As an example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at joining in. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about why the person creating the sound is having to make that sound. For example if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not at their best or are troubled. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. While the sound remains identical, your reaction of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
