Yuletide Can Be a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman hopes for spending time with her family this Christmas, but admits one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by using her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the main festive feast.
For her, Christmas can be a notably tough time as the sounds of family members munching, drinking noisily and nose-blowing cause her intense distress.
"I get this wave of instant dread, my every muscle will just tense up and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to stop these noises."
Lottie has lived with sound sensitivity from a young age and for her that makes the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, particularly those produced by other people.
It is prevalent in the UK. Experts reported almost one in five people are affected by it.
Frequently it's sounds connected to bodily functions that lead to discomfort, as well as things like chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"My relatives are understanding, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous time of the year can rapidly become a living nightmare for sufferers.
Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a visceral feeling that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a young adult, who has dealt with misophonia for over a decade, explains currently her plan is to listen to music to cope. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to escape problematic noises.
She explains her condition is more intense around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to be around family, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"I feel as if this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."
Three Ways to Cope
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Imagine a Different Scenario: Imagination is crucial. Work on connecting the specific noise bothering you with an unrelated image. As an illustration, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a game with the person. As an example, if someone is eating noisily attempt joining in. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is behaving that way. So if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps 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 shifts from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.
