The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.
One young woman anticipates being with her relatives this Christmas, but admits one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by using her noise-cancelling devices - especially during the holiday meal.
In her case, Christmas can be a particularly difficult time as the sounds of people eating, slurping and breathing heavily make her feel profound anxiety.
"There's this sensation of sudden panic, my whole body will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to manage these triggers."
The individual has experienced misophonia from a young age and for her that renders the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, notably sounds coming from other people.
It is prevalent in the UK. Experts reported nearly 20% people suffer from it.
Frequently it's noises linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, along with examples such as crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
A Source of Dread
Lottie says: "You encounter so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"My relatives are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to guarantee others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the most wonderful season can rapidly become a stressful ordeal for sufferers.
Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can trigger a powerful reaction that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
Jenna, a university student, who has experienced misophonia for over a decade, explains her strategy is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to escape triggering sounds.
She explains her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to socialize with loved ones, and I want to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will take over.
"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Manage
If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, according to clinical psychologists.
- Picture an Alternative: Mental imagery is crucial. Work on connecting the specific noise affecting you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you is neutral.
- Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the person. For instance, if someone is eating noisily try copying the noise. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone creating the sound is doing it. So if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not in good health or maybe they're upset. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. While the sound stays the same, your reaction of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
