Christmas Transforms Into a Living Hell for Misophonia Sufferers.
One young woman is looking forward to spending time with her family during the festive period, but notes one of the only ways she'll endure is by wearing her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year often feels like a especially challenging time as the noises of other people chewing, sipping loudly and breathing heavily cause her profound anxiety.
"There's this sensation of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tense up and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these triggers."
She has suffered from this condition for several years and for her that causes the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, notably sounds made by individuals.
It is prevalent across the population. Researchers reported a significant portion of people suffer from it.
Typically it's sounds connected to mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, including things like crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
Lottie says: "There are so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"My relatives are aware, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous season can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for sufferers.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a strong emotional response that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with misophonia from childhood, states currently her plan is to use headphones to manage the meal. Usually, she would frequently go in a separate space to minimize distressing triggers.
She says her condition is more intense around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "hard".
"There is pressure to be around family, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"I feel as if this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then panic will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
Several Strategies to Cope
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Visualise an Alternative: Creative thinking is essential. Work on connecting the particular sound affecting you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a competition involving the source. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly attempt joining in. By joining in, 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.
- Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is having to make that sound. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not feeling well or maybe they're upset. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. While the sound remains identical, your reaction of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
