Christmas Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
A 23-year-old is looking forward to being with her loved ones over the holidays, but notes one of the only ways she'll cope is by using her noise-cancelling devices - notably for Christmas dinner.
For her, Christmas can be a notably tough period as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, slurping and breathing heavily make her feel intense distress.
"There's this wave of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tense up and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to manage these sounds."
Lottie has lived with sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that makes the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, particularly those made by those around you.
It's surprisingly common across the population. A study discovered a significant portion of people suffer from it.
Often it's noises associated with eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, including examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
A Source of Dread
She explains: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to make sure everyone else is happy."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous time of the year can quickly turn into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Noises that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can cause a powerful reaction that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced sound sensitivity from childhood, says the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Typically, she would often retreat in a quiet area to avoid distressing triggers.
She explains her condition is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"People assume you to spend time with family, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then panic will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being unreasonable and melodramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Handle It
If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, based on advice from clinical psychologists.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is crucial. Try to associate the specific noise causing distress with a neutral concept. So for example, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a competition involving the source. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly try joining in. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an engaged person. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to create a little story about why the person creating the sound is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. While the sound remains identical, your interpretation of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
