Yuletide Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers.
One young woman is looking forward to being with her relatives during the festive period, but admits a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by using her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the main festive feast.
For her, the holidays is a especially challenging period as the auditory triggers of people eating, sipping loudly and breathing heavily trigger profound anxiety.
"There's this wave of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just freeze and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to manage these sounds."
Lottie has lived with misophonia from a young age and for her that causes the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to particular auditory triggers, especially noises coming from other people.
It is prevalent in the UK. Experts found nearly 20% people suffer from it.
Typically it's sounds linked to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, including examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"My relatives are aware, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous time of the year can rapidly become a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a strong emotional response that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity from childhood, says the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to get through dinner. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to escape triggering sounds.
She says her condition is worse around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"People assume you to socialize with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"The sensation is this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then panic will take over.
"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Manage
For those affected then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, according to experts.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Imagination is essential. Try to associate the particular sound bothering you with something completely different. So for example, try to picture someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the person. For instance, 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 engaged person. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Create a Scenario: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone creating the sound is having to make that sound. So if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not at their best or could be emotional. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. Although the sound remains identical, your reaction of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
