Yuletide Transforms Into a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
Lottie hopes for seeing her family during the festive period, but admits a key strategy she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - especially during the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year can be a notably tough season as the sounds of other people chewing, slurping and breathing heavily make her feel profound anxiety.
"I experience this sensation of sudden panic, my whole body will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to stop these noises."
Lottie has experienced this condition for several years and for her that renders the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, notably sounds produced by individuals.
It is prevalent in the UK. Experts found a significant portion of people are affected by it.
Typically it's sounds connected to bodily functions that cause distress, as well as examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "There are so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"My family are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to guarantee everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful period can quickly turn into a living nightmare for affected individuals.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a visceral feeling that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced sound sensitivity since aged 10, explains her strategy is to use headphones to get through dinner. Usually, she would frequently go in a different room to minimize distressing triggers.
She says her sensitivity is more intense around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "hard".
"There's an expectation to spend time with family, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"It's like this sudden rage 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 melodramatic, 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 try to cope the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Picture a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is key. Attempt to link the specific noise causing distress with an unrelated image. So for example, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness 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, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Develop a Narrative: Another technique is to try to create a little story about why the person creating the sound is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not feeling well or maybe they're upset. By doing this is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the noise stays the same, your reaction of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
