The Holiday Season Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
A 23-year-old hopes for being with her loved ones this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her earplugs - particularly at Christmas dinner.
For her, Christmas can be a especially challenging time as the auditory triggers of family members munching, drinking noisily and breathing heavily cause her profound anxiety.
"I get this sensation of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just freeze and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to manage these noises."
The individual has lived with misophonia for several years and for her that causes the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, particularly those made by individuals.
The condition is widespread across the population. Experts discovered nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Frequently it's sounds linked to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, along with things like chewing, breathing, and pen clicking.
'Anxiety Inducing'
Lottie says: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to guarantee everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful season can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Noises that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a powerful reaction that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.
She, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with misophonia since aged 10, says currently her plan is to put her earphones in to cope. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to avoid triggering sounds.
She says her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to socialize with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"I feel as if this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will take over.
"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
Several Strategies to Handle It
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, based on advice from experts.
- Picture a Different Scenario: Imagination is essential. Work on connecting the specific noise affecting you with something completely different. As an illustration, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a game with the person. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is doing it. For example if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not at their best or are troubled. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise stays the same, your understanding of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
