Christmas Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers.
Lottie anticipates being with her loved ones during the festive period, but says one of the only ways she'll endure is by using her earplugs - notably for the holiday meal.
In her case, this time of year is a notably tough season as the auditory triggers of people eating, slurping and breathing heavily make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"There's this wave of instant dread, my whole body will just tense up and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to manage these noises."
The individual has lived with this condition from a young age and for her that renders the Christmas time "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, notably sounds produced by individuals.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. A study discovered almost one in five people are affected by it.
Typically it's noises linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that lead to discomfort, as well as things like chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "I face so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"My family are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy season can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for sufferers.
Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a visceral feeling that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.
The student, a young adult, who has struggled with sound sensitivity from childhood, says currently her plan is to use headphones to manage the meal. Usually, she would often retreat in a separate space to avoid triggering sounds.
She says her condition is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to be around loved ones, 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 stressed and begin to weep and then panic will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
Several Strategies to Manage
If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, according to experts.
- Imagine an Alternative: Imagination is essential. Attempt to link the triggering sound causing distress with an unrelated image. So for example, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Try a Competition: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a game with the person. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is behaving that way. So if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not at their best or could be emotional. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. While the noise remains identical, your interpretation of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
