Yuletide Transforms Into a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
A 23-year-old is looking forward to being with her loved ones over the holidays, but notes one of the only ways she'll cope is by wearing her hearing protection - especially during the main festive feast.
In her case, this time of year is a especially challenging period as the sounds of family members munching, drinking noisily and sniffling make her feel profound anxiety.
"There's this feeling of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just tense up and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these sounds."
Lottie has experienced sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that makes the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, notably sounds produced by individuals.
It's surprisingly common in the UK. Researchers reported almost one in five people are affected by it.
Frequently it's noises connected to bodily functions that cause distress, along with things like chewing, breathing, and pen clicking.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you dread 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 sacrificing my own sanity to ensure everyone else is happy."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous season can quickly turn into a living nightmare for sufferers.
Sounds that may seem harmless, 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 withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity from childhood, states her strategy is to listen to music to manage the meal. On any other day, she would frequently go in a different room to avoid distressing triggers.
She notes her sensitivity is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to spend time with family, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel stressed and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will take over.
"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Handle It
If you suffer then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Picture an Alternative: Imagination is crucial. Try to associate the specific noise causing distress with an unrelated image. As an illustration, try to envision someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Try a Competition: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the culprit. For example, if someone is eating noisily attempt mimicking the sound. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
- Create a Scenario: One more method is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not in good health or are troubled. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Although the noise doesn't change, your interpretation of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
