The Holiday Season Often Proves to Be a Living Hell for Misophonia Sufferers.
Lottie hopes for seeing her relatives over the holidays, but notes a primary method she'll cope is by relying on her hearing protection - notably for the holiday meal.
In her case, this time of year is a particularly difficult time as the noises of other people chewing, sipping loudly and sniffling cause her profound anxiety.
"I experience this feeling of sudden panic, my entire being will just tighten and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these noises."
Lottie has experienced this condition from a young age and for her that causes the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, particularly those produced by individuals.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Experts discovered a significant portion of people experience it.
Often it's sounds connected to bodily functions that lead to discomfort, as well as things like crunching, breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
Lottie says: "I face so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the most wonderful period can quickly turn into a living nightmare for affected individuals.
Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a visceral feeling that can even cause them avoiding social settings altogether.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with misophonia for over a decade, explains currently her plan is to use headphones to cope. Usually, she would frequently go in a quiet area to minimize problematic noises.
She says her misophonia is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "hard".
"There is pressure to socialize with loved ones, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"The sensation is this uncontrollable anger takes hold, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will activate.
"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Cope
If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, based on advice from experts.
- Imagine an Alternative: Imagination is essential. Work on connecting the specific noise affecting you with something completely different. As an illustration, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the culprit. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly try joining in. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is behaving that way. So if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. While the noise stays the same, your understanding of it changes from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
