Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Living Hell for Misophonia Sufferers.
Lottie hopes for seeing her loved ones over the holidays, but notes one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her hearing protection - notably for the holiday meal.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays is a notably tough period as the sounds of other people chewing, sipping loudly and sniffling cause her extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this sensation of instant dread, my whole body will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these sounds."
The individual has lived with this condition for several years and for her that renders the holiday period "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, particularly those produced by those around you.
The condition is widespread in the UK. Researchers discovered nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Often it's sounds associated with bodily functions that trigger a reaction, as well as things like chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
Triggering Stress
Lottie says: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid it.
"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to guarantee others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the traditionally happy period can quickly turn into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can provoke a visceral feeling that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity from childhood, explains the approach she intends to use is to use headphones to manage the meal. Typically, she would often retreat in a different room to avoid problematic noises.
She explains her sensitivity is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "hard".
"There is pressure to be around family, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then the stress response will activate.
"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey unless you've experienced it."
Three Ways to Manage
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, according to experts.
- Picture a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is key. Work on connecting the particular sound bothering you with something completely different. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a waterfall. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a game involving the source. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at mimicking the sound. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to create a little story about why the person creating the sound is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not feeling well or are troubled. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the noise doesn't change, your interpretation of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.