The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.
A 23-year-old is looking forward to spending time with her relatives during the festive period, but says a key strategy she'll cope is by relying on her earplugs - especially during Christmas dinner.
In her case, Christmas often feels like a particularly difficult season as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, drinking noisily and breathing heavily trigger profound anxiety.
"There's this feeling of instant dread, my every muscle will just tense up and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to stop these noises."
She has suffered from this condition from a young age and for her that causes the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, particularly those coming from individuals.
The condition is widespread across the population. A study reported a significant portion of people are affected by it.
Frequently it's noises connected to bodily functions that lead to discomfort, as well as examples such as crunching, breathing, and pen clicking.
A Source of Dread
Lottie says: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"My family are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to ensure everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful season can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for sufferers.
Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a visceral feeling that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a young adult, who has experienced misophonia for over a decade, explains currently her plan is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to escape problematic noises.
She says her condition is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to spend time with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"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 fight-or-flight will activate.
"To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and overreacting, but it's hard to explain if you haven't felt it."
Several Strategies to Cope
If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, according to clinical psychologists.
- Visualise a Different Scenario: Imagination is crucial. Try to associate the specific noise bothering you with something completely different. So for example, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the culprit. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt joining in. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone making the noise is doing it. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not in good health or maybe they're upset. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. Although the noise doesn't change, your reaction of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
