Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.
One young woman anticipates being with her relatives this Christmas, but admits a key strategy she'll endure is by using her hearing protection - especially during Christmas dinner.
In her case, this time of year is a notably tough season as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, drinking noisily and nose-blowing make her feel intense distress.
"I get this wave of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tense up and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to manage these sounds."
The individual has lived with sound sensitivity for several years and for her that renders the holiday period "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, notably sounds produced by those around you.
It is prevalent in the UK. A study found a significant portion of people experience it.
Often it's noises associated with eating or drinking that cause distress, including things like chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
Triggering Stress
Lottie says: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"My relatives are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to make sure everyone else is happy."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy period can quickly turn into a source of agony for affected individuals.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, 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.
She, a university student, who has dealt with misophonia for over a decade, states her strategy is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. On any other day, she would frequently go in a different room to avoid problematic noises.
She explains her condition is more pronounced around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "hard".
"There is pressure to spend time with loved ones, and I want to, but it's draining.
"It's like this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then the stress response will kick in.
"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Manage
For those affected then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, according to specialists.
- Visualise Something Else: Mental imagery is key. Work on connecting the specific noise bothering you with an unrelated image. So for example, try to envision someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a game with the person. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is having to make that sound. For example if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the sound doesn't change, your interpretation of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
