Yuletide Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
Lottie is looking forward to spending time with her relatives this Christmas, but admits a key strategy she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her earplugs - particularly at the main festive feast.
In her case, the holidays is a notably tough time as the sounds of other people chewing, sipping loudly and nose-blowing cause her profound anxiety.
"I get this feeling of instant dread, my whole body will just freeze and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to manage these triggers."
The individual has suffered from misophonia since she was 16 and for her that renders the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, particularly those made by those around you.
It is prevalent in the UK. Experts reported almost one in five people suffer from it.
Frequently it's noises associated with eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, along with things like crunching, breathing, and foot tapping.
Triggering Stress
She explains: "There are so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.
"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a constant struggle of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee everyone else is happy."
So it's clear why the most wonderful season can transform into a living nightmare for affected individuals.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a strong emotional response that can even cause them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with misophonia from childhood, states the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to cope. On any other day, she would often retreat in a separate space to minimize problematic noises.
She explains her misophonia is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to be around family, and I want to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then panic will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's hard to explain if you haven't felt it."
Several Strategies to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Imagine Something Else: Mental imagery is essential. Attempt to link the particular sound causing distress with something completely different. So for example, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the culprit. As an example, if someone is eating noisily try joining in. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to invent a reason 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 could be emotional. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. Although the sound remains identical, your reaction of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
