Yuletide Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
Lottie is looking forward to spending time with her family during the festive period, but says a key strategy she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her hearing protection - especially during the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year often feels like a particularly difficult season as the noises of other people chewing, drinking noisily and nose-blowing trigger extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this sensation of sudden panic, my entire being will just tighten and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to stop these noises."
The individual has experienced misophonia from a young age and for her that causes the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, especially noises made by other people.
It is prevalent across the population. A study discovered a significant portion of people experience it.
Often it's noises associated with bodily functions that cause distress, including examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
She explains: "There are so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.
"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure everyone else is happy."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous time of the year can transform into a stressful ordeal for affected individuals.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a powerful reaction that can even result in them skipping events entirely.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity from childhood, states her strategy is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to avoid problematic noises.
She notes her condition is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "hard".
"People assume you to socialize with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this uncontrollable anger takes hold, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will take over.
"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."
Three Ways to Manage
For those affected then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is crucial. Try to associate the specific noise bothering you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a waterfall. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a game with the culprit. For instance, if someone is eating noisily try copying the noise. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Create a Scenario: One more method is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is behaving that way. For example if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not in good health or maybe they're upset. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. While the sound stays the same, your reaction of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
