Christmas Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman hopes for seeing her relatives this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by using her noise-cancelling devices - especially during Christmas dinner.
For her, Christmas often feels like a particularly difficult period as the noises of other people chewing, sipping loudly and breathing heavily make her feel profound anxiety.
"I get this feeling of instant dread, my every muscle will just freeze and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these noises."
She has lived with misophonia since she was 16 and for her that renders the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, particularly those produced by those around you.
It is prevalent across the population. A study discovered almost one in five people experience it.
Typically it's sounds linked to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, as well as things like crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
Lottie says: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you want to avoid it.
"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to ensure others enjoy themselves."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy time of the year can transform into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a visceral feeling that can even result in them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced misophonia for over a decade, says the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. On any other day, she would often retreat in a quiet area to escape problematic noises.
She says her sensitivity is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to spend time with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"It's like this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then the stress response will kick in.
"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Handle It
For those affected then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, based on advice from clinical psychologists.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Imagination is crucial. Try to associate the particular sound bothering you with something completely different. So for example, try to picture someone's slurping is just a waterfall. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Use Humor: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a competition involving the source. For instance, if someone is eating noisily have a go at joining in. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an engaged person. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is behaving that way. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. By doing this is re-framing the context of the sound. Even though the noise stays the same, your understanding of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.