Yuletide Can Be a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.
Lottie hopes for seeing her loved ones this Christmas, but admits one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by using her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at Christmas dinner.
For her, Christmas often feels like a especially challenging time as the noises of people eating, sipping loudly and nose-blowing cause her intense distress.
"I experience this sensation of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tighten and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these noises."
Lottie has experienced sound sensitivity for several years and for her that renders the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to particular auditory triggers, notably sounds made by other people.
It is prevalent across the population. Researchers reported nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Typically it's sounds associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, including examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "There are so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you dread it.
"My relatives are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the most wonderful season can quickly turn into a living nightmare for affected individuals.
Triggers that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can cause a powerful reaction that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with misophonia since aged 10, states currently her plan is to use headphones to cope. Usually, she would frequently go in a separate space to avoid triggering sounds.
She says her condition is more pronounced around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"People assume you to spend time with family, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, 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 oversensitive and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey unless you've experienced it."
Three Ways to Manage
If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Imagination is key. Try to associate the specific noise bothering you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to envision someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a competition involving the source. For example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt mimicking the sound. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
- Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not in good health or could be emotional. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise stays the same, your understanding of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
