The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers.
One young woman hopes for spending time with her family during the festive period, but says one of the only ways she'll cope is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year often feels like a notably tough time as the auditory triggers of people eating, sipping loudly and nose-blowing trigger intense distress.
"There's this wave of sudden panic, my entire being will just tense up and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these sounds."
The individual has experienced this condition since she was 16 and for her that causes the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, notably sounds coming from individuals.
It's surprisingly common across the population. Researchers discovered nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Frequently it's sounds linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, including things like chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
A Source of Dread
Lottie says: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid it.
"My relatives are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful period can transform into a stressful ordeal for affected individuals.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can cause a powerful reaction that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a university student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity from childhood, states her strategy is to listen to music to manage the meal. On any other day, she would often retreat in a quiet area to avoid triggering sounds.
She explains her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"People assume you to be around loved ones, and I want to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this uncontrollable anger comes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will activate.
"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."
A Few Techniques to Manage
For those affected then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, based on advice from specialists.
- Visualise Something Else: Creative thinking is essential. Attempt to link the triggering sound bothering you with something completely different. So for example, try to picture someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the culprit. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to create a little story about the reason someone creating the sound is doing it. For example if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not feeling well or maybe they're upset. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise doesn't change, your understanding of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
