Christmas Can Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
Lottie is looking forward to seeing her relatives over the holidays, but notes one of the only ways she'll cope is by relying on her hearing protection - notably for the holiday meal.
For her, the holidays can be a notably tough season as the auditory triggers of people eating, slurping and sniffling make her feel profound anxiety.
"I experience this wave of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just freeze and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these noises."
The individual has lived with misophonia from a young age and for her that causes the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, especially noises coming from other people.
It is prevalent across the population. A study found nearly 20% people suffer from it.
Frequently it's sounds linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, including things like chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
A Source of Dread
She explains: "There are so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you want to avoid it.
"My family are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's easy to understand why the most wonderful season can transform into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can trigger a visceral feeling that can even cause them avoiding social settings altogether.
She, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced misophonia for over a decade, explains her strategy is to listen to music to get through dinner. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to escape distressing triggers.
She explains her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"People assume you to socialize with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"I feel as if this uncontrollable anger takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then the stress response will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
Three Ways to Manage
For those affected then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by clinical psychologists.
- Imagine Something Else: Mental imagery is essential. Attempt to link the triggering sound causing distress with an unrelated image. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Use Humor: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a game with the person. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at mimicking the sound. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to invent a reason about why the person making the noise is doing it. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not feeling well or are troubled. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Although the noise stays the same, your interpretation of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
