Christmas Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers.
Lottie hopes for spending time with her loved ones over the holidays, but says one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by using her earplugs - particularly at the main festive feast.
In her case, the holidays can be a particularly difficult time as the noises of people eating, slurping and breathing heavily trigger extremely uncomfortable.
"There's this wave of instant dread, my every muscle will just tighten and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to manage these noises."
Lottie has lived with misophonia for several years and for her that renders the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, especially noises coming from individuals.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Experts discovered almost one in five people are affected by it.
Often it's sounds linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that lead to discomfort, along with things like chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to ensure everyone else is happy."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy time of the year can rapidly become a source of agony for those with the condition.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a visceral feeling that can even cause them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a young adult, who has experienced misophonia for over a decade, says currently her plan is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Usually, she would frequently go in a quiet area to escape distressing triggers.
She says her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "hard".
"People assume you to be around family, and I want to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"It's like this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, according to experts.
- Imagine an Alternative: Imagination is key. Attempt to link the triggering sound bothering you with something completely different. So for example, try to picture someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Try a Competition: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a game with the culprit. As an example, if someone is eating noisily attempt mimicking the sound. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not at their best or could be emotional. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise doesn't change, your interpretation of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
