The Holiday Season Often Proves to Be a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman is looking forward to being with her relatives this Christmas, but notes one of the only ways she'll endure is by using her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the holiday meal.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year can be a particularly difficult period as the sounds of people eating, drinking noisily and breathing heavily make her feel intense distress.
"There's this sensation of instant dread, my whole body will just tense up and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to stop these sounds."
She has experienced this condition from a young age and for her that makes the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, particularly those produced by other people.
It's surprisingly common across the population. Researchers reported almost one in five people are affected by it.
Frequently it's noises associated with eating or drinking that cause distress, along with things like crunching, breathing, and foot tapping.
Triggering Stress
Lottie says: "I face so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you want to avoid it.
"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful period can transform into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can provoke a powerful reaction that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.
She, a young adult, who has struggled with misophonia from childhood, states her strategy is to use headphones to manage the meal. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to minimize triggering sounds.
She says her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to socialize with family, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then the stress response will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
Three Ways to Cope
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Visualise an Alternative: Imagination is key. Work on connecting the specific noise affecting you with something completely different. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a game involving the source. For example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at joining in. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to create a little story about the reason someone creating the sound is doing it. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. By doing this is re-framing the context of the sound. While the sound doesn't change, your reaction of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral about it.