Yuletide Can Be a Living Hell for Misophonia Sufferers.
Lottie anticipates spending time with her family this Christmas, but notes a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her earplugs - especially during the holiday meal.
In her case, Christmas is a especially challenging time as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, slurping and sniffling cause her extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this wave of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just tighten and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to stop these sounds."
Lottie has suffered from this condition from a young age and for her that causes the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, particularly those produced by those around you.
The condition is widespread in the UK. Researchers reported a significant portion of people are affected by it.
Typically it's noises connected to bodily functions that cause distress, as well as things like crunching, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
Lottie says: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.
"My relatives are understanding, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to guarantee everyone else is happy."
So it's clear why the traditionally happy season can transform into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Noises that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can cause a strong emotional response that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with misophonia from childhood, says currently her plan is to use headphones to cope. On any other day, she would often retreat in a different room to avoid problematic noises.
She says her misophonia is more intense around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"People assume you to spend time with family, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"It's like this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then panic will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, according to experts.
- Picture Something Else: Imagination is essential. Work on connecting the triggering sound bothering you with something completely different. For instance, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you is neutral.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a challenge involving the source. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly try mimicking the sound. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone creating the sound is having to make that sound. For example if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not at their best or could be emotional. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. While the noise remains identical, your reaction of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
