Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
Lottie hopes for seeing her family during the festive period, but admits one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the main festive feast.
In her case, this time of year often feels like a especially challenging season as the auditory triggers of people eating, drinking noisily and breathing heavily make her feel intense distress.
"I experience this feeling of instant dread, my whole body will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to stop these sounds."
She has suffered from sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that renders the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, particularly those made by other people.
The condition is widespread amongst adults. Experts discovered almost one in five people suffer from it.
Typically it's sounds associated with eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, as well as examples such as chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
Lottie says: "There are so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid 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 enduring my distress to ensure everyone else is happy."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy period can quickly turn into a living nightmare for sufferers.
Noises that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can trigger a visceral feeling that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.
She, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity from childhood, explains the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to manage the meal. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to minimize triggering sounds.
She explains her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"People assume you to socialize with family, and I want to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this uncontrollable anger comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then the stress response will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being unreasonable and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."
Three Ways to Handle It
If you suffer then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Visualise an Alternative: Imagination is essential. Work on connecting the specific noise affecting you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to picture someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a competition with the culprit. For instance, if someone is eating noisily try copying the noise. By mimicking, instead of 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 somewhat less sensitive.
- Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. For example if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not at their best or maybe they're upset. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. While the noise stays the same, your interpretation of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
