Yuletide Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman anticipates spending time with her loved ones over the holidays, but says one of the only ways she'll cope is by using her earplugs - notably for Christmas dinner.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays is a notably tough period as the noises of other people chewing, drinking noisily and breathing heavily cause her profound anxiety.
"There's this sensation of sudden panic, my entire being will just freeze and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to stop these triggers."
Lottie has suffered from this condition for several years and for her that makes the Christmas time "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, notably sounds made by other people.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Researchers discovered a significant portion of people experience it.
Often it's noises associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that cause distress, including things like chewing, breathing, and pen clicking.
Triggering Stress
She explains: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"My family are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous period can rapidly become a source of agony for affected individuals.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a powerful reaction that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.
She, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced misophonia for over a decade, explains her strategy is to use headphones to get through dinner. On any other day, she would frequently go in a quiet area to escape triggering sounds.
She explains her condition is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to be around loved ones, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"It's like this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then the stress response will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
A Few Techniques to Manage
If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, based on advice from clinical psychologists.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is essential. Try to associate the specific noise causing distress with a neutral concept. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a game with the culprit. For example, if someone is crunching loudly try joining in. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Create a Scenario: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is doing it. So if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not at their best or are troubled. By doing this is re-framing the context of the sound. Even though the sound doesn't change, your reaction of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
