Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman anticipates seeing her loved ones this Christmas, but admits one of the only ways she'll cope is by using her hearing protection - especially during Christmas dinner.
For her, this time of year is a especially challenging period as the noises of other people chewing, drinking noisily and nose-blowing cause her extremely uncomfortable.
"There's this wave of instant dread, my entire being will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to stop these triggers."
Lottie has experienced misophonia for several years and for her that makes the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, particularly those coming from other people.
It is prevalent across the population. Experts reported a significant portion of people suffer from it.
Frequently it's noises linked to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, along with things like crunching, breathing, and pen clicking.
A Source of Dread
Lottie says: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the traditionally happy time of the year can quickly turn into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a strong emotional response that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.
Jenna, a university student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity since aged 10, states currently her plan is to use headphones to cope. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to escape distressing triggers.
She explains her sensitivity is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to be around family, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"It's like this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and immediately start crying and then the stress response will take over.
"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."
Several Strategies to Manage
If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by clinical psychologists.
- Imagine Something Else: Creative thinking is crucial. Attempt to link the particular sound bothering you with something completely different. So for example, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a game with the culprit. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at mimicking the sound. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not in good health or maybe they're upset. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. While the sound stays the same, your reaction of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
