Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.
Lottie anticipates spending time with her loved ones this Christmas, but notes a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at Christmas dinner.
For her, Christmas is a especially challenging period as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, drinking noisily and breathing heavily make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this wave of sudden panic, my entire being will just freeze and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to stop these triggers."
The individual has experienced this condition since she was 16 and for her that causes the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, especially noises made by other people.
It is prevalent amongst adults. Experts reported almost one in five people experience it.
Frequently it's noises associated with eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, including examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
Triggering Stress
She explains: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you dread it.
"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous time of the year can quickly turn into a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can trigger a powerful reaction that can even cause them skipping events entirely.
The student, a university student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity from childhood, explains her strategy is to use headphones to cope. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to avoid triggering sounds.
She explains her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "hard".
"People assume you to be around loved ones, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"I feel as if this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then panic will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."
Several Strategies to Cope
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, based on advice from specialists.
- Picture an Alternative: Creative thinking is crucial. Work on connecting the triggering sound bothering you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the culprit. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly try mimicking the sound. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about the reason someone creating the sound is doing it. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not feeling well or could be emotional. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. While the sound doesn't change, your understanding of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
