The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.
Lottie anticipates seeing her relatives during the festive period, but notes a key strategy she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays is a particularly difficult time as the noises of family members munching, slurping and breathing heavily trigger extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this feeling of sudden panic, my entire being will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to stop these triggers."
She has suffered from this condition since she was 16 and for her that renders the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, notably sounds produced by individuals.
It is prevalent amongst adults. Experts reported a significant portion of people are affected by it.
Typically it's sounds associated with eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, including things like chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to guarantee others enjoy themselves."
So it's easy to understand why the supposedly joyous season can transform into a stressful ordeal for affected individuals.
Triggers that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a strong emotional response that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a university student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity from childhood, states currently her plan is to listen to music to manage the meal. Usually, she would often retreat in a different room to minimize distressing triggers.
She says her sensitivity is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "hard".
"There is pressure to be around family, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"It's like this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then the stress response will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Manage
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, according to clinical psychologists.
- Visualise Something Else: Mental imagery is key. Try to associate the triggering sound bothering you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a game involving the source. For example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at mimicking the sound. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. So if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not in good health or maybe they're upset. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. While the noise doesn't change, your understanding of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
