Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
Lottie anticipates spending time with her family over the holidays, but says one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her earplugs - particularly at the holiday meal.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year can be a notably tough season as the sounds of family members munching, slurping and nose-blowing cause her intense distress.
"I get this sensation of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just freeze and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to stop these sounds."
The individual has lived with sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that makes the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, particularly those made by other people.
The condition is widespread in the UK. Experts discovered nearly 20% people suffer from it.
Typically it's noises linked to bodily functions that lead to discomfort, along with examples such as crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "You encounter so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you dread it.
"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous season can transform into a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a visceral feeling that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.
She, a young adult, who has struggled with misophonia from childhood, states currently her plan is to listen to music to manage the meal. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to avoid problematic noises.
She explains her condition is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to be around family, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then the stress response will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."
Several Strategies to Cope
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by clinical psychologists.
- Visualise Something Else: Creative thinking is key. Attempt to link the specific noise bothering you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. By doing this is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a challenge involving the source. As an example, if someone is eating noisily try copying the noise. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not in good health or are troubled. By doing this is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the sound doesn't change, your interpretation of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
