Christmas Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
Lottie anticipates spending time with her relatives this Christmas, but notes a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her earplugs - notably for the holiday meal.
For her, Christmas can be a notably tough time as the noises of family members munching, sipping loudly and nose-blowing cause her intense distress.
"There's this wave of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to manage these sounds."
She has suffered from this condition from a young age and for her that makes the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, particularly those produced by other people.
The condition is widespread across the population. A study found nearly 20% people experience it.
Typically it's sounds connected to bodily functions that lead to discomfort, as well as examples such as crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "There are so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to ensure everyone else is happy."
So it's easy to understand why the most wonderful period can transform into a living nightmare for affected individuals.
Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a visceral feeling that can even cause them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a university student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity since aged 10, explains her strategy is to listen to music to cope. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to minimize triggering sounds.
She says her condition is more intense around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There's an expectation to socialize with loved ones, and I want to, but it's draining.
"I feel as if this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
Several Strategies to Cope
If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, according to experts.
- Visualise a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is crucial. Work on connecting the specific noise bothering you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. The goal 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 involving the source. As an example, if someone is eating noisily try mimicking the sound. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to invent a reason 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. While the sound remains identical, your reaction of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
