Christmas Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers.
Lottie is looking forward to spending time with her loved ones during the festive period, but admits a key strategy she'll cope is by wearing her earplugs - especially during the main festive feast.
In her case, this time of year can be a particularly difficult period as the noises of other people chewing, drinking noisily and sniffling trigger profound anxiety.
"I get this feeling of sudden panic, my every muscle will just tighten and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to stop these noises."
She has suffered from misophonia since she was 16 and for her that causes the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, especially noises produced by individuals.
The condition is widespread across the population. Researchers discovered nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Frequently it's noises linked to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, along with examples such as crunching, breathing, and foot tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
Lottie says: "I face so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"My relatives are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to ensure everyone else is happy."
So it's clear why the most wonderful time of the year can transform into a living nightmare for sufferers.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a powerful reaction that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.
She, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced sound sensitivity for over a decade, explains her strategy is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to escape problematic noises.
She explains her sensitivity is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "hard".
"There's an expectation to socialize with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then panic will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being unreasonable and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
Several Strategies to Manage
If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, based on advice from specialists.
- Visualise a Different Scenario: Imagination is key. Attempt to link the triggering sound affecting you with something completely different. So for example, try to picture someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a game with the person. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at joining in. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone creating the sound is doing it. So if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. Although the noise remains identical, your understanding of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
