Christmas Transforms Into a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman hopes for spending time with her loved ones this Christmas, but notes a key strategy she'll endure is by wearing her noise-cancelling devices - especially during the main festive feast.
For her, the holidays is a especially challenging time as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, slurping and sniffling trigger intense distress.
"I get this wave of instant dread, my whole body will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these sounds."
The individual has experienced misophonia for several years and for her that causes the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, particularly those coming from individuals.
It is prevalent in the UK. A study discovered almost one in five people experience it.
Frequently it's sounds connected to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, as well as things like chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
Lottie says: "I face so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee everyone else is happy."
So it's easy to understand why the supposedly joyous period can transform into a stressful ordeal for sufferers.
Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a visceral feeling that can even result in them skipping events entirely.
She, a young adult, who has dealt with misophonia for over a decade, says the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to get through dinner. On any other day, she would often retreat in a separate space to minimize problematic noises.
She explains her condition is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to be around family, and I want to, but it's draining.
"It's like this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel stressed and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."
Several Strategies to Cope
For those affected then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Imagine Something Else: Imagination is crucial. Attempt to link the triggering sound causing distress with a neutral concept. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a waterfall. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Try a Competition: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a competition involving the source. As an example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at joining in. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to create a little story about why the person creating the sound is doing it. Imagine if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not at their best or are troubled. By doing this is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise remains identical, your interpretation of it changes from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
