Christmas Transforms Into a Living Hell for Misophonia Sufferers.
Lottie is looking forward to spending time with her relatives over the holidays, but notes one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by using her earplugs - especially during the main festive feast.
For her, the holidays is a especially challenging period as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, drinking noisily and sniffling cause her intense distress.
"I experience this wave of sudden panic, my entire being will just tighten and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to stop these triggers."
The individual has lived with sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that renders the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, particularly those produced by those around you.
The condition is widespread amongst adults. Experts found almost one in five people suffer from it.
Frequently it's noises associated with eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, along with examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
She explains: "There are so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid it.
"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous period can rapidly become a stressful ordeal for sufferers.
Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a strong emotional response that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced sound sensitivity from childhood, explains currently her plan is to put her earphones in to cope. On any other day, she would often retreat in a quiet area to avoid triggering sounds.
She says her misophonia is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to be around loved ones, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"I feel as if this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then panic will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."
Several Strategies to Manage
If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Picture a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is essential. Try to associate the specific noise causing distress with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. The goal is to help your brain learn 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 involving the source. As an example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at mimicking the sound. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Create a Scenario: One more method is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone making the noise is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not in good health or maybe they're upset. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. While the sound remains identical, your reaction of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
