Yuletide Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
A 23-year-old is looking forward to spending time with her relatives during the festive period, but says one of the only ways she'll cope is by using her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the main festive feast.
In her case, this time of year can be a especially challenging period as the noises of other people chewing, slurping and nose-blowing make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this wave of sudden panic, my every muscle will just tense up and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to manage these sounds."
Lottie has experienced misophonia since she was 16 and for her that causes the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, notably sounds made by other people.
The condition is widespread across the population. Researchers reported almost one in five people are affected by it.
Frequently it's sounds connected to bodily functions that cause distress, as well as things like chewing, breathing, and pen clicking.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "There are so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's easy to understand why the supposedly joyous time of the year can transform into a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Triggers that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can trigger a powerful reaction that can even cause them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity from childhood, says her strategy is to put her earphones in to cope. Typically, she would often retreat in a separate space to escape triggering sounds.
She says her sensitivity is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to socialize with family, and I desire 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 stressed and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being unreasonable and overreacting, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Manage
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by clinical psychologists.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is crucial. Work on connecting the particular sound bothering you with something completely different. For instance, try to envision someone's slurping is just a waterfall. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the person. For example, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone creating the sound is doing it. Imagine if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not at their best or could be emotional. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the noise remains identical, your reaction of it changes from being irritating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
