The Holiday Season Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman anticipates seeing her loved ones this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her hearing protection - particularly at the holiday meal.
In her case, this time of year can be a especially challenging period as the auditory triggers of people eating, sipping loudly and nose-blowing trigger intense distress.
"There's this sensation of instant dread, my every muscle will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to manage these sounds."
The individual has experienced this condition from a young age and for her that makes the Christmas time "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, particularly those produced by those around you.
The condition is widespread across the population. Experts reported almost one in five people suffer from it.
Frequently it's sounds linked to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, as well as examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
Lottie says: "There are so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful season can rapidly become a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Noises that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can trigger a visceral feeling that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity since aged 10, states currently her plan is to put her earphones in to cope. Typically, she would frequently go in a separate space to minimize distressing triggers.
She explains her misophonia is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to socialize with family, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"It's like this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
Three Ways to Cope
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, based on advice from experts.
- Visualise an Alternative: Imagination is key. Attempt to link the triggering sound affecting you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to picture someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you is neutral.
- Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a challenge involving the source. As an example, if someone is eating noisily try joining in. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone creating the sound is having to make that sound. So if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not at their best or could be emotional. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. While the sound doesn't change, your understanding of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
