Christmas Can Be a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.
Lottie is looking forward to being with her relatives over the holidays, but notes one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her earplugs - particularly at the main festive feast.
In her case, Christmas often feels like a notably tough period as the noises of other people chewing, drinking noisily and nose-blowing trigger profound anxiety.
"I get this wave of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just freeze and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these sounds."
The individual has lived with this condition from a young age and for her that makes the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, particularly those coming from other people.
It is prevalent amongst adults. Experts found almost one in five people experience it.
Frequently it's noises connected to mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, along with examples such as chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
Lottie says: "There are so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to guarantee the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the traditionally happy season can rapidly become a source of agony for sufferers.
Triggers that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can cause a visceral feeling that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a university student, who has experienced misophonia since aged 10, explains currently her plan is to use headphones to cope. On any other day, she would often retreat in a quiet area to minimize distressing triggers.
She says her sensitivity is worse around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to spend time with loved ones, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"I feel as if this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Handle It
For those affected then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, according to clinical psychologists.
- Imagine an Alternative: Creative thinking is essential. Attempt to link the specific noise affecting you with an unrelated image. So for example, try to picture someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. This technique is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the person. For example, if someone is eating noisily try mimicking the sound. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Create a Scenario: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is doing it. Imagine if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not feeling well or are troubled. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the sound remains identical, your interpretation of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
