Christmas Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers.
Lottie is looking forward to seeing her loved ones during the festive period, but notes one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her earplugs - particularly at the holiday meal.
In her case, this time of year often feels like a particularly difficult time as the auditory triggers of family members munching, slurping and sniffling cause her extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this sensation of sudden panic, my whole body will just freeze and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these sounds."
She has experienced this condition for several years and for her that renders the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, notably sounds coming from other people.
It is prevalent amongst adults. Experts discovered nearly 20% people experience it.
Often it's noises linked to bodily functions that lead to discomfort, including examples such as chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.
Triggering Stress
She explains: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you fear it.
"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the most wonderful season can transform into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can trigger a visceral feeling that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a university student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity for over a decade, says her strategy is to put her earphones in to cope. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to minimize triggering sounds.
She notes her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"There's an expectation to be around family, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"I feel as if this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then panic will kick in.
"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."
Several Strategies to Manage
For those affected then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, based on advice from experts.
- Picture a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is crucial. Attempt to link the particular sound affecting you with an unrelated image. For instance, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the culprit. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about why the person making the noise is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not at their best or are troubled. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. While the sound remains identical, your understanding of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
