Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers.
Lottie hopes for being with her relatives over the holidays, but admits a primary method she'll cope is by relying on her hearing protection - particularly at the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year can be a especially challenging time as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, slurping and sniffling make her feel intense distress.
"I experience this wave of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just tense up and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to stop these triggers."
She has suffered from misophonia since she was 16 and for her that causes the holiday period "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, particularly those coming from other people.
It is prevalent amongst adults. Experts found nearly 20% people suffer from it.
Frequently it's sounds linked to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, along with things like crunching, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's easy to understand why the most wonderful season can rapidly become a source of agony for affected individuals.
Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a powerful reaction that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity since aged 10, states the approach she intends to use is to use headphones to cope. Usually, she would frequently go in a quiet area to avoid distressing triggers.
She says her condition is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to be around family, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"I feel as if this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then the stress response will activate.
"To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and overreacting, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."
Several Strategies to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Visualise a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is key. Attempt to link the particular sound bothering you with something completely different. For instance, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the person. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly try joining in. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not in good health or maybe they're upset. 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 towards it.
