The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Living Hell for Misophonia Sufferers.
A 23-year-old hopes for being with her family during the festive period, but admits one of the only ways she'll endure is by wearing her hearing protection - notably for the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year can be a particularly difficult time as the noises of people eating, drinking noisily and breathing heavily trigger extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this sensation of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just freeze and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these triggers."
She has lived with misophonia for several years and for her that renders the Christmas time "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, notably sounds made by other people.
The condition is widespread in the UK. A study found almost one in five people are affected by it.
Frequently it's sounds connected to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, including examples such as chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
Lottie says: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you fear it.
"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to make sure everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy season can quickly turn into a living nightmare for affected individuals.
Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can cause a powerful reaction that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
Jenna, a university student, who has dealt with misophonia for over a decade, explains her strategy is to listen to music to manage the meal. Usually, she would often retreat in a separate space to avoid distressing triggers.
She explains her condition is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "hard".
"People assume you to spend time with loved ones, and I want to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"It's like this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then panic will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being unreasonable and overreacting, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."
Several Strategies to Manage
If you suffer then there are various strategies you can attempt to manage the situation, based on advice from clinical psychologists.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is key. Attempt to link the particular sound affecting you with something completely different. So for example, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a game with the culprit. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at mimicking the sound. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about the reason someone creating the sound is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not at their best or are troubled. By doing this is re-framing the context of the sound. Although the sound doesn't change, your interpretation of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
