Christmas Transforms Into a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
Lottie anticipates spending time with her relatives over the holidays, but notes a primary method she'll cope is by using her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at Christmas dinner.
For the 23-year-old, Christmas is a particularly difficult season as the sounds of other people chewing, slurping and nose-blowing cause her profound anxiety.
"There's this sensation of sudden panic, my every muscle will just tighten and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to manage these noises."
Lottie has lived with this condition from a young age and for her that causes the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, notably sounds coming from those around you.
The condition is widespread in the UK. Researchers reported almost one in five people are affected by it.
Frequently it's noises associated with eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, as well as examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at the holidays 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 constant struggle of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful time of the year can transform into a living nightmare for affected individuals.
Noises that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can cause a strong emotional response that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with misophonia from childhood, explains her strategy is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Usually, she would often retreat in a different room to avoid problematic noises.
She notes her sensitivity is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to spend time with family, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"It's like this uncontrollable anger takes hold, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then panic will kick in.
"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
Several Strategies to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, according to specialists.
- Picture an Alternative: Imagination is crucial. Try to associate the particular sound affecting you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to envision someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. By doing this is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the culprit. For example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt mimicking the sound. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. So if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not in good health or are troubled. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. While the noise remains identical, your understanding of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
