Christmas Often Proves to Be a Living Hell for Misophonia Sufferers.
One young woman hopes for spending time with her relatives over the holidays, but notes a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - notably for Christmas dinner.
For her, this time of year can be a especially challenging period as the noises of other people chewing, drinking noisily and nose-blowing make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this feeling of instant dread, my whole body will just tense up and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these noises."
Lottie has lived with sound sensitivity from a young age and for her that renders the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, particularly those produced by those around you.
The condition is widespread amongst adults. A study found nearly 20% people suffer from it.
Typically it's noises connected to mouth, throat or facial movements that lead to discomfort, along with examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.
"My family are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the traditionally happy season can rapidly become a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a strong emotional response that can even cause them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity for over a decade, says currently her plan is to use headphones to manage the meal. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to minimize distressing triggers.
She notes her sensitivity is more intense around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to be around loved ones, and I want to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"I feel as if this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then the stress response will take over.
"To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and overreacting, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."
Several Strategies to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by clinical psychologists.
- Visualise an Alternative: Imagination is key. Work on connecting the particular sound bothering you with an unrelated image. As an illustration, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a game with the culprit. As an example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at mimicking the sound. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not feeling well or could be emotional. By doing this is re-framing the context of the sound. Even though the noise stays the same, your reaction of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
