Christmas Transforms Into a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.
Lottie anticipates seeing her loved ones during the festive period, but notes a primary method she'll cope is by using her hearing protection - particularly at the main festive feast.
In her case, this time of year often feels like a notably tough time as the sounds of other people chewing, slurping and nose-blowing cause her profound anxiety.
"There's this feeling of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just tighten and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to manage these noises."
She has lived with misophonia for several years and for her that renders the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, particularly those produced by other people.
It is prevalent across the population. Researchers discovered nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Often it's noises connected to bodily functions that cause distress, as well as things like chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
Lottie says: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you fear it.
"My family are aware, but I'm very mindful 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 obvious why the most wonderful time of the year can transform into a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a powerful reaction that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.
The student, a young adult, who has struggled with sound sensitivity from childhood, says the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to cope. Usually, she would often retreat in a different room to avoid distressing triggers.
She says her misophonia is worse around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "hard".
"There is pressure to spend time with family, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"I feel as if this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then the stress response will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
Three Ways to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Visualise a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is essential. Attempt to link the specific noise affecting you with something completely different. For instance, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you is neutral.
- Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the person. For instance, if someone is eating noisily attempt joining in. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an engaged person. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to create a little story about the reason someone creating the sound is doing it. So if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not feeling well or maybe they're upset. By doing this is re-framing the context of the sound. Even though the noise stays the same, your reaction of it changes from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
