The Holiday Season Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers.
Lottie anticipates seeing her loved ones this Christmas, but notes a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by using her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at the main festive feast.
In her case, this time of year is a particularly difficult season as the auditory triggers of people eating, slurping and nose-blowing cause her extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this sensation of sudden panic, my every muscle will just tighten and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these noises."
The individual has lived with misophonia for several years and for her that makes the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, especially noises coming from those around you.
The condition is widespread across the population. A study found almost one in five people suffer from it.
Frequently it's sounds associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, including things like chewing, breathing, and pen clicking.
Triggering Stress
She explains: "There are so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to guarantee others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the most wonderful period can transform into a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a strong emotional response that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a university student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity for over a decade, says her strategy is to listen to music to get through dinner. On any other day, she would frequently go in a quiet area to avoid problematic noises.
She explains her misophonia is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"People assume you to socialize with loved ones, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"The sensation is this uncontrollable anger comes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
Several Strategies to Manage
For those affected then there are various strategies you can attempt to manage the situation, according to specialists.
- Picture a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is key. Attempt to link the specific noise causing distress with an unrelated image. As an illustration, try to envision someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Try a Competition: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the culprit. As an example, if someone is eating noisily attempt joining in. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to invent a reason about why the person creating the sound is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not at their best or could be emotional. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise stays the same, your reaction of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
