Yuletide Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers.
One young woman is looking forward to spending time with her relatives this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her earplugs - especially during the main festive feast.
For her, Christmas often feels like a notably tough period as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, drinking noisily and nose-blowing make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"I get this feeling of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tense up and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these noises."
Lottie has experienced this condition since she was 16 and for her that makes the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, notably sounds produced by other people.
The condition is widespread across the population. Experts found almost one in five people are affected by it.
Typically it's sounds associated with bodily functions that lead to discomfort, as well as examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'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.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the most wonderful period can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for sufferers.
Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a powerful reaction that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced misophonia since aged 10, states the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to manage the meal. Typically, she would often retreat in a separate space to minimize distressing triggers.
She notes her condition is more intense around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "hard".
"There is pressure to socialize with family, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"I feel as if this uncontrollable anger takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will activate.
"It can come across as if I'm being unreasonable and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."
Several Strategies to Manage
For those affected then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, according to clinical psychologists.
- Picture an Alternative: Mental imagery is key. Try to associate the specific noise bothering you with something completely different. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a game with the culprit. For instance, if someone is eating noisily try copying the noise. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is behaving that way. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not feeling well or could be emotional. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Although the noise remains identical, your reaction of it changes from being irritating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
