The Holiday Season Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
Lottie is looking forward to seeing her relatives this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her hearing protection - particularly at the main festive feast.
For her, Christmas can be a particularly difficult season as the noises of other people chewing, sipping loudly and sniffling make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"There's this sensation of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to manage these sounds."
Lottie has suffered from sound sensitivity from a young age and for her that causes the holiday period "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, notably sounds made by other people.
The condition is widespread amongst adults. Experts found a significant portion of people suffer from it.
Typically it's noises connected to mouth, throat or facial movements that cause distress, along with things like chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "I face so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to ensure others enjoy themselves."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy season can rapidly become a source of agony for affected individuals.
Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can cause a strong emotional response that can even cause them avoiding social settings altogether.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity since aged 10, states the approach she intends to use is to use headphones to get through dinner. Usually, she would often retreat in a quiet area to avoid distressing triggers.
She explains her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There's an expectation to spend time with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"I feel as if this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Cope
For those affected then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, based on advice from clinical psychologists.
- Visualise an Alternative: Imagination is essential. Try to associate the particular sound bothering you with something completely different. As an illustration, try to envision someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a game with the person. For example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at joining in. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is doing it. Imagine if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. By doing this is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the sound doesn't change, your reaction of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
