Christmas Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
Lottie is looking forward to seeing her loved ones this Christmas, but notes one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her hearing protection - especially during the main festive feast.
In her case, this time of year is a particularly difficult season as the noises of other people chewing, drinking noisily and nose-blowing make her feel intense distress.
"I get this sensation of instant dread, my whole body will just tense up and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these triggers."
She has suffered from this condition for several years and for her that makes the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, notably sounds made by other people.
It's surprisingly common in the UK. Researchers discovered almost one in five people are affected by it.
Often it's noises associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that cause distress, as well as things like chewing, breathing, and pen clicking.
A Source of Dread
Lottie says: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you dread it.
"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful season can rapidly become a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a powerful reaction that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced misophonia for over a decade, states the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to cope. On any other day, she would often retreat in a different room to avoid problematic noises.
She says her condition is more intense around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"People assume you to spend time with loved ones, and I want to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this uncontrollable anger comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then the stress response will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
Several Strategies to Manage
If you suffer then there are various strategies you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Imagine Something Else: Creative thinking is crucial. Attempt to link the specific noise affecting you with an unrelated image. For instance, try to envision someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a game with the person. As an example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at joining in. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is behaving that way. So if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not in good health or maybe they're upset. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. Although the noise remains identical, your reaction of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
