The Holiday Season Can Be a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.
A 23-year-old is looking forward to being with her family this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by using her earplugs - notably for Christmas dinner.
In her case, Christmas often feels like a notably tough time as the noises of family members munching, drinking noisily and breathing heavily make her feel profound anxiety.
"I experience this sensation of sudden panic, my every muscle will just tighten and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these noises."
The individual has experienced misophonia since she was 16 and for her that causes the holiday period "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, especially noises coming from other people.
The condition is widespread amongst adults. A study discovered almost one in five people experience it.
Frequently it's noises associated with eating or drinking that cause distress, including examples such as chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.
Triggering Stress
Lottie says: "I face so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to guarantee the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the most wonderful season can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for sufferers.
Noises that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can provoke a powerful reaction that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with misophonia for over a decade, states her strategy is to listen to music to cope. Typically, she would often retreat in a separate space to minimize distressing triggers.
She notes her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to be around family, and I want to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and burst into tears and then the stress response will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."
Several Strategies to Handle It
For those affected then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, based on advice from clinical psychologists.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is crucial. Work on connecting the specific noise bothering you with something completely different. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the culprit. For instance, if someone is eating noisily attempt joining in. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an engaged person. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about the reason someone creating the sound is behaving that way. So if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not feeling well or are troubled. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. While the noise doesn't change, your interpretation of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
