Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.
A 23-year-old is looking forward to being with her family this Christmas, but admits one of the only ways she'll cope is by wearing her hearing protection - especially during the holiday meal.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year can be a especially challenging time as the sounds of people eating, slurping and sniffling cause her extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this feeling of sudden panic, my every muscle will just freeze and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to manage these noises."
She has lived with misophonia since she was 16 and for her that causes the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, especially noises made by those around you.
It is prevalent amongst adults. Experts discovered nearly 20% people experience it.
Typically it's sounds linked to bodily functions that lead to discomfort, along with things like chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
Lottie says: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"My family are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to guarantee the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful time of the year can rapidly become a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a visceral feeling that can even cause them avoiding social settings altogether.
She, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity from childhood, states her strategy is to use headphones to manage the meal. On any other day, she would often retreat in a separate space to minimize triggering sounds.
She explains her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to socialize with family, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and immediately start crying and then panic will kick in.
"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Manage
If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, according to specialists.
- Picture an Alternative: Imagination is essential. Try to associate the triggering sound affecting you with something completely different. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a competition involving the source. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at joining in. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is doing it. For example if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not in good health or could be emotional. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the noise stays the same, your understanding of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
