Yuletide Transforms Into a Living Hell for Misophonia Sufferers.
Lottie hopes for being with her family this Christmas, but notes one of the only ways she'll cope is by using her noise-cancelling devices - especially during the holiday meal.
For her, Christmas often feels like a especially challenging period as the sounds of family members munching, slurping and nose-blowing trigger intense distress.
"I experience this sensation of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just freeze and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to stop these sounds."
The individual has suffered from sound sensitivity for several years and for her that renders the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, notably sounds coming from those around you.
The condition is widespread in the UK. A study reported a significant portion of people suffer from it.
Often it's sounds connected to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, as well as things like chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.
Triggering Stress
Lottie says: "I face so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear 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 managing my symptoms to ensure others enjoy themselves."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy time of the year can rapidly become a source of agony for sufferers.
Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can provoke a powerful reaction that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a university student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity for over a decade, states the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to manage the meal. On any other day, she would frequently go in a quiet area to avoid distressing triggers.
She explains her condition is worse around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"People assume you to spend time with loved ones, and I want to, but it's draining.
"It's like this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep 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 if you haven't felt it."
Three Ways to Manage
For those affected then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, according to specialists.
- Picture Something Else: Imagination is key. Try to associate the triggering sound bothering you with an unrelated image. For instance, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. This technique is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a game involving the source. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Develop a Narrative: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is doing it. Imagine if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the noise doesn't change, your understanding of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
