Yuletide Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers.
One young woman hopes for seeing her family this Christmas, but admits one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her hearing protection - especially during Christmas dinner.
In her case, the holidays can be a notably tough period as the noises of family members munching, drinking noisily and breathing heavily make her feel profound anxiety.
"I experience this wave of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just tense up and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to stop these triggers."
Lottie has lived with misophonia for several years and for her that makes the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, particularly those coming from those around you.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Researchers discovered nearly 20% people suffer from it.
Frequently it's sounds linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that cause distress, along with things like chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "There are so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"My relatives are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to make sure everyone else is happy."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous time of the year can rapidly become a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a visceral feeling that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
Jenna, a young adult, who has dealt with misophonia since aged 10, states her strategy is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Typically, she would often retreat in a quiet area to minimize distressing triggers.
She notes her sensitivity is worse around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"People assume you to spend time with family, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then the stress response will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Manage
If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, according to experts.
- Picture an Alternative: Creative thinking is essential. Attempt to link the particular sound bothering you with something completely different. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a waterfall. By doing this is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a game with the culprit. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly try mimicking the sound. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. Although the noise doesn't change, your reaction of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
