The Holiday Season Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers.
Lottie is looking forward to seeing her relatives over the holidays, but notes one of the only ways she'll cope is by wearing her hearing protection - especially during the main festive feast.
In her case, this time of year can be a notably tough season as the sounds of other people chewing, sipping loudly and nose-blowing make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this wave of instant dread, my entire being will just freeze and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these noises."
Lottie has suffered from sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that causes the Christmas time "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, notably sounds made by those around you.
It's surprisingly common across the population. Experts found nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Typically it's sounds associated with eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, along with examples such as crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "There are so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to ensure others enjoy themselves."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful period can rapidly become a stressful ordeal for affected individuals.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a strong emotional response that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.
She, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced sound sensitivity from childhood, states her strategy is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. Typically, she would frequently go in a different room to minimize problematic noises.
She explains her condition is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"People assume you to spend time with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this uncontrollable anger comes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being unreasonable and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
Several Strategies to Handle It
If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Imagine an Alternative: Imagination is essential. Try to associate the specific noise bothering you with an unrelated image. For instance, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a competition with the person. For instance, if someone is eating noisily attempt joining in. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to create a little story about the reason someone making the noise is doing it. Imagine if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not at their best or could be emotional. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. Even though the noise doesn't change, your understanding of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
