Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.
One young woman hopes for seeing her relatives over the holidays, but notes a key strategy she'll cope is by using her earplugs - particularly at the main festive feast.
For her, this time of year can be a particularly difficult period as the noises of people eating, sipping loudly and breathing heavily make her feel intense distress.
"There's this sensation of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just tighten and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these noises."
The individual has suffered from this condition for several years and for her that causes the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, notably sounds made by those around you.
It's surprisingly common in the UK. Researchers discovered almost one in five people experience it.
Frequently it's sounds connected to bodily functions that cause distress, including examples such as crunching, breathing, and pen clicking.
A Source of Dread
Lottie says: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"My family are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's easy to understand why the most wonderful season can quickly turn into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can cause a visceral feeling that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a university student, who has struggled with misophonia for over a decade, says currently her plan is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. Typically, she would frequently go in a quiet area to avoid triggering sounds.
She explains her condition is worse around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to spend time with family, and I want to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then panic will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's hard to explain if you haven't felt it."
Three Ways to Handle It
For those affected then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, according to experts.
- Picture Something Else: Creative thinking is crucial. Work on connecting the particular sound causing distress with an unrelated image. As an illustration, try to picture someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a game involving the source. For example, if someone is crunching loudly try joining in. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is having to make that sound. So if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not in good health or are troubled. By doing this is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the sound stays the same, your interpretation of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
