Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers.
Lottie anticipates being with her family this Christmas, but admits a primary method she'll endure is by wearing her hearing protection - notably for the main festive feast.
In her case, this time of year is a especially challenging time as the noises of other people chewing, slurping and nose-blowing cause her intense distress.
"I get this sensation of instant dread, my entire being will just tighten and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these sounds."
She has lived with sound sensitivity for several years and for her that causes the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, especially noises produced by those around you.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Experts discovered almost one in five people experience it.
Frequently it's noises associated with eating or drinking that cause distress, including things like chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "There are so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"My family are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to guarantee others enjoy themselves."
So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous season can quickly turn into a living nightmare for sufferers.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a powerful reaction that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced sound sensitivity since aged 10, says the approach she intends to use is to use headphones to cope. On any other day, she would often retreat in a different room to escape triggering sounds.
She notes her condition is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"People assume you to spend time with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"The sensation is this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then the stress response will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult 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 attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is key. Try to associate the specific noise affecting you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to envision someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a competition with the culprit. For example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at copying the noise. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is doing it. So if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not in good health or are troubled. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. While the noise stays the same, your interpretation of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
