Yuletide Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman hopes for spending time with her relatives during the festive period, but says a primary method she'll cope is by using her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at Christmas dinner.
For her, Christmas often feels like a notably tough period as the noises of family members munching, slurping and nose-blowing make her feel intense distress.
"I get this feeling of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just freeze and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these sounds."
She has lived with sound sensitivity for several years and for her that renders the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, especially noises produced by other people.
The condition is widespread in the UK. Experts discovered nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Typically it's noises linked to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, including things like crunching, breathing, and foot tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
Lottie says: "There are so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you dread it.
"My family are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful season 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 eating the holiday meal can cause a visceral feeling that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with misophonia for over a decade, says her strategy is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. On any other day, she would frequently go in a quiet area to minimize problematic noises.
She says her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to be around loved ones, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"I feel as if this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being unreasonable and overreacting, but it's tough to describe 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 specialists.
- Imagine Something Else: Imagination is crucial. Work on connecting the particular sound affecting you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the culprit. For instance, if someone is eating noisily attempt mimicking the sound. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not at their best or could be emotional. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise remains identical, your reaction of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
