Yuletide Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers.
Lottie anticipates being with her family during the festive period, but notes one of the only ways she'll cope is by wearing her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the holiday meal.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year often feels like a especially challenging season as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, sipping loudly and sniffling make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this wave of sudden panic, my every muscle will just tighten and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to manage these triggers."
Lottie has lived with this condition for several years and for her that causes the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, particularly those produced by individuals.
The condition is widespread amongst adults. A study discovered nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Frequently it's noises connected to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, along with things like crunching, breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "There are so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.
"My relatives are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure everyone else is happy."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous season can transform into a stressful ordeal for sufferers.
Noises that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a visceral feeling that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.
Jenna, a young adult, who has struggled with sound sensitivity from childhood, explains currently her plan is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. On any other day, she would frequently go in a quiet area to avoid triggering sounds.
She notes her condition is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to be around family, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"I feel as if this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then the stress response will take over.
"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
Three Ways to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, based on advice from specialists.
- Picture an Alternative: Creative thinking is key. Work on connecting the specific noise bothering you with an unrelated image. So for example, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. This technique is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Try a Competition: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the culprit. As an example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at copying the noise. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Create a Scenario: One more method is to try to create a little story about why the person creating the sound is doing it. So if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not feeling well or could be emotional. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. While the sound stays the same, your reaction of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
