The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Living Hell for Misophonia Sufferers.
A 23-year-old anticipates seeing her family this Christmas, but admits one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by using her earplugs - notably for Christmas dinner.
In her case, the holidays often feels like a notably tough time as the noises of family members munching, slurping and breathing heavily make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"There's this sensation of sudden panic, my whole body will just tighten and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to manage these sounds."
The individual has lived with misophonia for several years and for her that renders the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, especially noises coming from those around you.
It is prevalent amongst adults. A study discovered nearly 20% people suffer from it.
Often it's noises associated with bodily functions that lead to discomfort, along with examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
Lottie says: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you want to avoid it.
"My relatives are understanding, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy period can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for sufferers.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a visceral feeling that can even cause them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a young adult, who has struggled with sound sensitivity since aged 10, explains the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to cope. On any other day, she would frequently go in a quiet area to escape problematic noises.
She explains her condition is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "hard".
"There is pressure to be around loved ones, and I want to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"It's like this uncontrollable anger takes hold, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel stressed and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Cope
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can attempt to manage the situation, according to experts.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is key. Try to associate the particular sound causing distress with an unrelated image. So for example, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a game with the person. For example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at joining in. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not in good health or are troubled. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the sound doesn't change, your reaction of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
