The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
Lottie anticipates seeing her family during the festive period, but notes one of the only ways she'll cope is by wearing her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at the holiday meal.
For her, Christmas can be a especially challenging season as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, sipping loudly and breathing heavily make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this sensation of sudden panic, my entire being will just tighten and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these triggers."
The individual has suffered from sound sensitivity from a young age and for her that renders the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, particularly those coming from those around you.
It's surprisingly common in the UK. Experts reported almost one in five people experience it.
Often it's sounds connected to bodily functions that cause distress, including examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
Lottie says: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to ensure others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the most wonderful time of the year can rapidly become a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a strong emotional response that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with misophonia since aged 10, explains currently her plan is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to avoid triggering sounds.
She notes her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "hard".
"People assume you to be around loved ones, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then panic will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
A Few Techniques to Manage
If you suffer then there are various strategies you can attempt to manage the situation, according to clinical psychologists.
- Picture an Alternative: Imagination is essential. Work on connecting the specific noise affecting you with something completely different. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the person. For example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt mimicking the sound. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about the reason someone making the noise is having to make that sound. So if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not feeling well or maybe they're upset. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. While the sound remains identical, your understanding of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
