Christmas Often Proves to Be a Living Hell for Misophonia Sufferers.
Lottie is looking forward to being with her loved ones this Christmas, but admits a primary method she'll endure is by wearing her earplugs - notably for Christmas dinner.
In her case, Christmas is a particularly difficult time as the sounds of people eating, slurping and nose-blowing trigger profound anxiety.
"I experience this sensation of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to manage these noises."
She has lived with sound sensitivity for several years and for her that causes the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, especially noises made by other people.
The condition is widespread in the UK. A study reported nearly 20% people experience it.
Often it's noises linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that cause distress, including things like chewing, breathing, and pen clicking.
A Source of Dread
She explains: "I face so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the most wonderful period can transform into a source of agony for sufferers.
Triggers that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a visceral feeling that can even result in them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with misophonia for over a decade, explains currently her plan is to put her earphones in to cope. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to minimize distressing triggers.
She notes her condition is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"People assume you to socialize with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"I feel as if this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and immediately start crying and then the stress response will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's hard to explain if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Manage
If you suffer then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by clinical psychologists.
- Imagine Something Else: Imagination is essential. Attempt to link the specific noise causing distress with a neutral concept. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the culprit. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly try joining in. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the challenge 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 the reason someone making the noise is having to make that sound. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not feeling well or could be emotional. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Although the sound stays the same, your interpretation of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
