Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
Lottie anticipates spending time with her loved ones during the festive period, but notes one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her hearing protection - notably for the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, Christmas can be a especially challenging time as the sounds of people eating, drinking noisily and sniffling cause her intense distress.
"I get this feeling of instant dread, my entire being will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to manage these noises."
She has suffered from this condition for several years and for her that causes the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, particularly those produced by other people.
The condition is widespread across the population. Researchers discovered nearly 20% people suffer from it.
Typically it's sounds associated with eating or drinking that cause distress, along with examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy season can quickly turn into a living nightmare for affected individuals.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a strong emotional response that can even result in them skipping events entirely.
The student, a young adult, who has dealt with misophonia since aged 10, states currently her plan is to put her earphones in to cope. Usually, she would frequently go in a separate space to avoid problematic noises.
She explains her sensitivity is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "hard".
"There is pressure to be around family, and I want to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's hard to explain if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Manage
If you suffer then there are various strategies you can attempt to manage the situation, based on advice from clinical psychologists.
- Picture a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is essential. Attempt to link the triggering sound bothering you with something completely different. For instance, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a game with the culprit. For example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at mimicking the sound. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to create a little story about why the person creating the sound is having to make that sound. For example if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not in good health or could be emotional. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. While the sound doesn't change, your interpretation of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
