Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.
Lottie is looking forward to being with her relatives over the holidays, but says one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her hearing protection - especially during Christmas dinner.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year often feels like a notably tough period as the sounds of other people chewing, slurping and nose-blowing make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this sensation of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just tighten and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to stop these triggers."
Lottie has lived with this condition since she was 16 and for her that renders the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, particularly those coming from individuals.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Researchers discovered nearly 20% people suffer from it.
Frequently it's sounds linked to bodily functions that lead to discomfort, along with examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
Triggering Stress
She explains: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's easy to understand why the most wonderful time of the year can quickly turn into a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Triggers that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a visceral feeling that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced misophonia from childhood, states the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Usually, she would frequently go in a different room to avoid distressing triggers.
She says her sensitivity is worse around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There's an expectation to spend time with family, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"I feel as if this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Manage
For those affected then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, based on advice from specialists.
- Picture an Alternative: Imagination is key. Attempt to link the particular sound causing distress with something completely different. As an illustration, try to envision someone's slurping is just a waterfall. This technique is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a game with the culprit. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is doing it. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not at their best or could be emotional. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise stays the same, your interpretation of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
