The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers.
One young woman anticipates seeing her relatives this Christmas, but notes one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by using her hearing protection - notably for the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays is a notably tough time as the sounds of other people chewing, sipping loudly and breathing heavily trigger profound anxiety.
"I get this feeling of instant dread, my every muscle will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to stop these noises."
Lottie has suffered from this condition for several years and for her that makes the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to particular auditory triggers, especially noises produced by individuals.
The condition is widespread in the UK. Researchers discovered nearly 20% people experience it.
Frequently it's sounds connected to eating or drinking that cause distress, including things like chewing, breathing, and pen clicking.
A Source of Dread
Lottie says: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to make sure everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy period can transform into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Triggers that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can trigger a strong emotional response that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with misophonia for over a decade, explains currently her plan is to use headphones to cope. On any other day, she would frequently go in a separate space to avoid distressing triggers.
She explains her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"People assume you to socialize with family, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"I feel as if this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Manage
If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, according to specialists.
- Picture Something Else: Mental imagery is key. Try to associate the particular sound bothering you with something completely different. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a game with the culprit. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at joining in. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone creating the sound is doing it. So if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not in good health or could be emotional. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the sound doesn't change, your understanding of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
