Christmas Can Be a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.
Lottie hopes for seeing her loved ones this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she'll endure is by using her hearing protection - notably for the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, Christmas often feels like a notably tough season as the noises of other people chewing, sipping loudly and sniffling trigger profound anxiety.
"There's this feeling of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just tense up and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to manage these triggers."
Lottie has lived with sound sensitivity for several years and for her that renders the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, particularly those coming from other people.
It is prevalent amongst adults. Experts discovered almost one in five people experience it.
Often it's sounds associated with bodily functions that trigger a reaction, as well as things like crunching, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid it.
"My family are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to guarantee the event goes smoothly."
So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy season can transform into a living nightmare for affected individuals.
Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a strong emotional response that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.
She, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced misophonia since aged 10, states currently her plan is to listen to music to get through dinner. On any other day, she would often retreat in a separate space to avoid distressing triggers.
She notes her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to socialize with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"It's like this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then panic will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
A Few Techniques to Handle It
If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Imagine an Alternative: Imagination is essential. Work on connecting the specific noise causing distress with an unrelated image. So for example, try to picture someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Try a Competition: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a challenge involving the source. For example, if someone is eating noisily attempt mimicking the sound. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is doing it. Imagine if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not feeling well or are troubled. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. Although the noise remains identical, your interpretation of it changes from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
