Christmas Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
Lottie is looking forward to seeing her loved ones this Christmas, but notes one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by using her earplugs - especially during Christmas dinner.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays often feels like a especially challenging time as the noises of family members munching, sipping loudly and nose-blowing trigger extremely uncomfortable.
"There's this sensation of instant dread, my every muscle will just freeze and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these sounds."
The individual has experienced misophonia for several years and for her that renders the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, especially noises coming from those around you.
The condition is widespread amongst adults. Researchers discovered a significant portion of people experience it.
Typically it's noises linked to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, as well as things like chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
She explains: "There are so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous time of the year can transform into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can provoke a visceral feeling that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
Jenna, a young adult, who has struggled with misophonia since aged 10, explains the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to cope. Usually, she would frequently go in a quiet area to escape problematic noises.
She notes her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "hard".
"There is pressure to spend time with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel awkward, 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 difficult and dramatic, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Handle It
If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, according to experts.
- Imagine an Alternative: Creative thinking is key. Work on connecting the triggering sound affecting you with something completely different. So for example, try to envision someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. This technique is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Use Humor: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a competition with the person. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly attempt mimicking the sound. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is doing it. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not feeling well or could be emotional. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. While the sound remains identical, your reaction of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
