Yuletide Transforms Into a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.
Lottie anticipates being with her loved ones over the holidays, but admits a primary method she'll cope is by wearing her earplugs - notably for the holiday meal.
For her, Christmas is a particularly difficult season as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, sipping loudly and sniffling make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"There's this feeling of instant dread, my every muscle will just tense up and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these triggers."
Lottie has lived with this condition for several years and for her that renders the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to particular auditory triggers, particularly those made by other people.
It is prevalent in the UK. Researchers discovered nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Typically it's sounds linked to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, including things like crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
Lottie says: "There are so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid it.
"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy time of the year can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can cause a visceral feeling that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced misophonia since aged 10, states her strategy is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to minimize triggering sounds.
She explains her sensitivity is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to socialize with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"It's like this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then panic will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."
Three Ways to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by clinical psychologists.
- Visualise a Different Scenario: Imagination is essential. Try to associate the triggering sound bothering you with something completely different. For instance, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you is neutral.
- Use Humor: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a game involving the source. As an example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at mimicking the sound. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
- Develop a Narrative: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone creating the sound is behaving that way. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not at their best or are troubled. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. Even though the noise stays the same, your understanding of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
