The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman anticipates seeing her loved ones this Christmas, but says a primary method she'll cope is by wearing her hearing protection - notably for Christmas dinner.
For the 23-year-old, Christmas can be a particularly difficult season as the noises of family members munching, sipping loudly and sniffling make her feel profound anxiety.
"I get this feeling of instant dread, my entire being will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to stop these triggers."
Lottie has experienced sound sensitivity from a young age and for her that makes the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, notably sounds coming from individuals.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Experts reported a significant portion of people experience it.
Often it's sounds associated with bodily functions that cause distress, along with examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
She explains: "You encounter so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the traditionally happy period can transform into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can trigger a powerful reaction that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.
She, a university student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity since aged 10, states currently her plan is to use headphones to cope. Typically, she would often retreat in a quiet area to escape problematic noises.
She explains her sensitivity is worse around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "hard".
"People assume you to socialize with family, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"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 the stress response will take over.
"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."
Several Strategies to Cope
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, according to specialists.
- Visualise an Alternative: Mental imagery is crucial. Attempt to link the specific noise bothering you with something completely different. For instance, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a competition involving the source. As an example, if someone is eating noisily attempt joining in. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone creating the sound is behaving that way. So if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. While the sound remains identical, your understanding of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
