Christmas Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers.
A 23-year-old hopes for being with her relatives over the holidays, but admits one of the only ways she'll endure is by relying on her earplugs - notably for the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year can be a especially challenging season as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, slurping and sniffling make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this sensation of sudden panic, my entire being will just freeze and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these noises."
The individual has experienced misophonia from a young age and for her that causes the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to particular auditory triggers, especially noises produced by those around you.
The condition is widespread in the UK. Experts discovered nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Often it's noises associated with eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, as well as things like chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
Lottie says: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you fear it.
"My family are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's easy to understand why the most wonderful period can quickly turn into a living nightmare for sufferers.
Noises that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a strong emotional response that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a university student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity from childhood, says currently her plan is to put her earphones in to cope. On any other day, she would frequently go in a different room to escape problematic noises.
She explains her condition is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "hard".
"There is pressure to spend time with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"It's like this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then the stress response will activate.
"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
A Few Techniques to Manage
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, according to specialists.
- Picture an Alternative: Imagination is key. Try to associate the particular sound affecting you with something completely different. As an illustration, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a waterfall. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the culprit. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone making the noise is behaving that way. So if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not in good health or are troubled. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the noise stays the same, your understanding of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
