Christmas Can Be a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman is looking forward to being with her loved ones over the holidays, but admits a key strategy she'll cope is by using her earplugs - especially during Christmas dinner.
In her case, the holidays is a notably tough period as the sounds of other people chewing, slurping and breathing heavily make her feel profound anxiety.
"I get this sensation of sudden panic, my every muscle will just tense up and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to manage these triggers."
Lottie has experienced misophonia from a young age and for her that causes the holiday period "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, particularly those made by individuals.
The condition is widespread in the UK. Experts reported a significant portion of people experience it.
Frequently it's noises associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that lead to discomfort, including examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.
'Anxiety Inducing'
Lottie says: "There are so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread 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 managing my symptoms to guarantee others enjoy themselves."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy season can rapidly become a living nightmare for affected individuals.
Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a visceral feeling that can even cause them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a young adult, who has experienced sound sensitivity for over a decade, explains currently her plan is to listen to music to get through dinner. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to avoid triggering sounds.
She explains her misophonia is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There's an expectation to spend time with family, and I want to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then panic will activate.
"To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Imagine an Alternative: Imagination is essential. Attempt to link the particular sound bothering you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a game with the culprit. For instance, if someone is eating noisily try copying the noise. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
- Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about the reason someone making the noise is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not feeling well or maybe they're upset. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise stays the same, your interpretation of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
