Yuletide Transforms Into a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.
A 23-year-old hopes for seeing her relatives over the holidays, but notes a primary method she'll cope is by using her earplugs - especially during the holiday meal.
For her, Christmas is a especially challenging period as the auditory triggers of people eating, drinking noisily and sniffling cause her profound anxiety.
"There's this feeling of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just freeze and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to manage these noises."
Lottie has experienced misophonia for several years and for her that makes the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, notably sounds produced by those around you.
The condition is widespread across the population. A study reported almost one in five people suffer from it.
Often it's sounds connected to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, including examples such as crunching, breathing, and pen clicking.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "There are so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"My relatives are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. 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 season can rapidly become a source of agony for sufferers.
Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a strong emotional response that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a young adult, who has struggled with sound sensitivity since aged 10, explains her strategy is to use headphones to get through dinner. Usually, she would often retreat in a separate space to escape distressing triggers.
She explains her condition is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"People assume you to spend time with family, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"It's like this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then panic will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Manage
If you suffer then there are various strategies you can attempt to manage the situation, according to experts.
- Visualise an Alternative: Mental imagery is key. Try to associate the particular sound bothering you with something completely different. For instance, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a game with the person. For example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at mimicking the sound. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: Another technique is to try to invent a reason about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. So if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not in good health or could be emotional. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. While the noise remains identical, your reaction of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
