Yuletide Transforms Into a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
Lottie hopes for spending time with her family this Christmas, but admits one of the only ways she'll cope is by relying on her hearing protection - notably for the main festive feast.
In her case, this time of year is a particularly difficult time as the auditory triggers of people eating, sipping loudly and sniffling make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this feeling of sudden panic, my entire being will just freeze and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these sounds."
The individual has suffered from misophonia from a young age and for her that renders the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, especially noises coming from those around you.
The condition is widespread amongst adults. Researchers found nearly 20% people suffer from it.
Often it's noises linked to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, including examples such as chewing, breathing, and pen clicking.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "I face so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid it.
"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous season can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a strong emotional response that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a university student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity from childhood, explains currently her plan is to listen to music to get through dinner. On any other day, she would often retreat in a quiet area to escape triggering sounds.
She says her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to be around loved ones, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"The sensation is this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then panic will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being unreasonable and overreacting, but it's hard to explain if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Cope
If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Visualise a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is key. Attempt to link the specific noise bothering you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. By doing this is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a game with the person. For example, if someone is eating noisily try copying the noise. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not in good health or maybe they're upset. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. Even though the noise stays the same, your interpretation of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
