The Holiday Season Can Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
Lottie hopes for spending time with her loved ones this Christmas, but notes a key strategy she'll cope is by using her earplugs - especially during Christmas dinner.
In her case, the holidays can be a especially challenging season as the sounds of family members munching, slurping and nose-blowing make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this feeling of sudden panic, my entire being will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to stop these triggers."
Lottie has suffered from this condition for several years and for her that makes the holiday period "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, notably sounds made by individuals.
It is prevalent in the UK. Researchers discovered almost one in five people are affected by it.
Frequently it's sounds associated with bodily functions that trigger a reaction, as well as things like crunching, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
A Source of Dread
Lottie says: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure others enjoy themselves."
So it's easy to understand why the most wonderful period can transform into a stressful ordeal for sufferers.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a powerful reaction that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
Jenna, a young adult, who has experienced misophonia from childhood, explains currently her plan is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. Typically, she would frequently go in a separate space to escape problematic noises.
She explains her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "hard".
"People assume you to spend time with family, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"I feel as if this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then the stress response will activate.
"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Manage
If you suffer then there are various strategies you can attempt to manage the situation, according to experts.
- Picture a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is essential. Work on connecting the specific noise bothering you with an unrelated image. As an illustration, try to envision someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a game involving the source. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at joining in. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Create a Scenario: One more method is to try to create a little story about why the person creating the sound is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not at their best or maybe they're upset. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise stays the same, your interpretation of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
