Christmas Transforms Into a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.
A 23-year-old hopes for being with her relatives during the festive period, but says a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - notably for Christmas dinner.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays often feels like a especially challenging season as the noises of family members munching, sipping loudly and breathing heavily make her feel intense distress.
"I get this wave of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to stop these sounds."
The individual has experienced this condition from a young age and for her that makes the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, especially noises produced by other people.
It is prevalent amongst adults. Researchers discovered almost one in five people suffer from it.
Typically it's noises connected to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, along with things like chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
Lottie says: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid 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 sacrificing my own sanity to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the most wonderful period can transform into a living nightmare for sufferers.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a strong emotional response that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a young adult, who has dealt with misophonia for over a decade, says currently her plan is to use headphones to get through dinner. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to escape triggering sounds.
She notes her condition is worse around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "hard".
"There is pressure to socialize with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"I feel as if this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then the stress response will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
Three Ways to Cope
If you suffer then there are various strategies you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by clinical psychologists.
- Picture an Alternative: Creative thinking is essential. Try to associate the specific noise bothering you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a game with the culprit. As an example, if someone is eating noisily attempt copying the noise. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone creating the sound is having to make that sound. For example if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not feeling well or maybe they're upset. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the sound doesn't change, your interpretation of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
