Yuletide Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
A 23-year-old anticipates being with her loved ones during the festive period, but admits a key strategy she'll endure is by wearing her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at the main festive feast.
For her, this time of year is a especially challenging period as the sounds of other people chewing, slurping and breathing heavily trigger intense distress.
"I get this feeling of instant dread, my every muscle will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to stop these noises."
Lottie has lived with this condition since she was 16 and for her that makes the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, notably sounds made by individuals.
It's surprisingly common across the population. Researchers found nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Typically it's sounds connected to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, including things like chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "I face so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to ensure everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the most wonderful time of the year can rapidly become a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Noises that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can provoke a powerful reaction that can even result in them skipping events entirely.
She, a university student, who has dealt with misophonia for over a decade, explains her strategy is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Typically, she would often retreat in a quiet area to minimize distressing triggers.
She notes her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "hard".
"People assume you to spend time with family, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"I feel as if this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then the stress response will take over.
"To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
A Few Techniques to Cope
If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, based on advice from experts.
- Visualise an Alternative: Mental imagery is crucial. Try to associate the particular sound causing distress with an unrelated image. For instance, try to envision someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. This technique is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a challenge involving the source. For example, if someone is eating noisily try copying the noise. 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 a little less affected.
- Create a Scenario: One more method is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is behaving that way. For example if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not feeling well or maybe they're upset. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the sound doesn't change, your reaction of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
