Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.
Lottie anticipates seeing her relatives over the holidays, but says a key strategy she'll endure is by using her hearing protection - notably for the main festive feast.
In her case, the holidays often feels like a particularly difficult season as the auditory triggers of people eating, drinking noisily and breathing heavily cause her intense distress.
"I get this wave of sudden panic, my entire being will just tense up and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these sounds."
The individual has experienced this condition since she was 16 and for her that makes the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, particularly those coming from other people.
It is prevalent amongst adults. A study discovered nearly 20% people experience it.
Frequently it's noises connected to mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, as well as examples such as chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
She explains: "There are so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you fear it.
"My family are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to ensure others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the traditionally happy season can rapidly become a source of agony for sufferers.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a powerful reaction that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.
She, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced sound sensitivity from childhood, says the approach she intends to use is to use headphones to manage the meal. On any other day, she would frequently go in a different room to escape triggering sounds.
She explains her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"There's an expectation to spend time with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"It's like this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel stressed and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being unreasonable and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."
Three Ways to Cope
If you suffer then there are various strategies you can attempt to manage the situation, according to experts.
- Visualise an Alternative: Imagination is crucial. Work on connecting the particular sound bothering you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to envision someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a challenge involving the source. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is behaving that way. So if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not feeling well or maybe they're upset. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the noise remains identical, your reaction of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
