Yuletide Transforms Into a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
A 23-year-old hopes for seeing her loved ones over the holidays, but admits one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by using her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at the holiday meal.
In her case, this time of year is a particularly difficult time as the noises of people eating, slurping and breathing heavily cause her intense distress.
"I get this sensation of sudden panic, my every muscle will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to stop these noises."
Lottie has lived with sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that causes the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, especially noises made by those around you.
The condition is widespread across the population. A study discovered nearly 20% people experience it.
Often it's noises connected to mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, as well as things like crunching, breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to ensure everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy season can quickly turn into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Noises that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can provoke a visceral feeling that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.
She, a university student, who has experienced sound sensitivity since aged 10, states currently her plan is to put her earphones in to cope. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to minimize distressing triggers.
She explains her misophonia is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to spend time with family, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"The sensation is this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then the stress response will kick in.
"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Handle It
If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Picture an Alternative: Mental imagery is essential. Work on connecting the specific noise bothering you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Try a Competition: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a game with the culprit. As an example, if someone is eating noisily try joining in. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is having to make that sound. So if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not feeling well or are troubled. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. While the sound stays the same, your understanding of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
