Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman hopes for being with her loved ones this Christmas, but notes a primary method she'll endure is by relying on her earplugs - especially during the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year can be a especially challenging time as the sounds of other people chewing, drinking noisily and breathing heavily make her feel profound anxiety.
"There's this sensation of instant dread, my every muscle will just tighten and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to manage these triggers."
Lottie has lived with sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that causes the holiday period "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, notably sounds produced by other people.
It is prevalent in the UK. Researchers found nearly 20% people suffer from it.
Often it's noises connected to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, including examples such as crunching, breathing, and pen clicking.
Triggering Stress
She explains: "There are so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to guarantee others enjoy themselves."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy season can rapidly become a source of agony for those with the condition.
Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a strong emotional response that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.
The student, a university student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity since aged 10, states the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to cope. Typically, she would frequently go in a different room to avoid problematic noises.
She explains her condition is more intense around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There is pressure to socialize with loved ones, and I want to, but it's draining.
"It's like this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will take over.
"To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."
Several Strategies to Manage
If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, according to clinical psychologists.
- Visualise an Alternative: Creative thinking is key. Attempt to link the specific noise affecting you with an unrelated image. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you is neutral.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a game with the person. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly attempt copying the noise. By mimicking, 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 slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone making the noise is doing it. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not feeling well or maybe they're upset. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the noise remains identical, your reaction of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
