Christmas Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
Lottie anticipates seeing her family this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she'll cope is by relying on her earplugs - notably for the holiday meal.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year often feels like a especially challenging season as the auditory triggers of family members munching, slurping and sniffling cause her intense distress.
"There's this feeling of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just tense up and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to stop these noises."
The individual has experienced sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that makes the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, particularly those made by those around you.
It is prevalent in the UK. Experts discovered a significant portion of people suffer from it.
Typically it's sounds linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, including things like chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you want to avoid it.
"My relatives are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous season can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for affected individuals.
Noises that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a visceral feeling that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with misophonia from childhood, explains her strategy is to listen to music to cope. On any other day, she would often retreat in a separate space to avoid triggering sounds.
She says her condition is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to be around family, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this uncontrollable anger takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then the stress response will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."
Three Ways to Manage
If you suffer then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Visualise an Alternative: Mental imagery is essential. Try to associate the triggering sound affecting you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a competition 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 engaged person. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone making the noise is having to make that sound. For example if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not in good health or are troubled. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the sound stays the same, your reaction of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
