Christmas Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman anticipates spending time with her relatives over the holidays, but notes a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by using her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at the main festive feast.
In her case, this time of year can be a notably tough period as the sounds of other people chewing, slurping and sniffling make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this feeling of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just freeze and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these sounds."
Lottie has suffered from misophonia for several years and for her that causes the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, notably sounds coming from those around you.
It is prevalent amongst adults. A study discovered almost one in five people are affected by it.
Frequently it's sounds linked to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, as well as examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "I face so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"My family are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the most wonderful period can rapidly become a source of agony for affected individuals.
Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can provoke a powerful reaction that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced sound sensitivity from childhood, says currently her plan is to listen to music to cope. Usually, she would often retreat in a separate space to minimize triggering sounds.
She explains her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "hard".
"There's an expectation to be around family, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"It's like this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then the stress response will kick in.
"To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
Three Ways to Cope
For those affected then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, according to clinical psychologists.
- Visualise an Alternative: Creative thinking is key. Try to associate the triggering sound bothering you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a game involving the source. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at copying the noise. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone creating the sound is behaving that way. So if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not feeling well or are troubled. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. While the sound doesn't change, your interpretation of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
