The Holiday Season Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
A 23-year-old is looking forward to being with her family this Christmas, but notes a primary method she'll endure is by wearing her noise-cancelling devices - especially during Christmas dinner.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year is a notably tough period as the sounds of people eating, sipping loudly and nose-blowing make her feel intense distress.
"I experience this sensation of instant dread, my every muscle will just tighten and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these noises."
The individual has suffered from misophonia for several years and for her that causes the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, notably sounds made by those around you.
The condition is widespread in the UK. Experts reported a significant portion of people experience it.
Frequently it's sounds associated with bodily functions that cause distress, as well as things like chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
Lottie says: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you fear it.
"My relatives are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous season can transform into a living nightmare for affected individuals.
Noises that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can cause a visceral feeling that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.
She, a university student, who has experienced misophonia from childhood, states her strategy is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to avoid distressing triggers.
She explains her sensitivity is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"People assume you to spend time with family, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"I feel as if this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then panic will kick in.
"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
A Few Techniques to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, according to specialists.
- Picture a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is key. Attempt to link the specific noise affecting you with an unrelated image. As an illustration, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a game with the culprit. For example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at mimicking the sound. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Develop a Narrative: Another technique is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone creating the sound is doing it. So if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not in good health or are troubled. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise doesn't change, your reaction of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
