Yuletide Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
A 23-year-old hopes for seeing her family this Christmas, but notes one of the only ways she'll endure is by relying on her earplugs - particularly at the holiday meal.
For the 23-year-old, Christmas can be a especially challenging period as the noises of other people chewing, slurping and nose-blowing cause her profound anxiety.
"There's this wave of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just freeze and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these triggers."
Lottie has experienced misophonia since she was 16 and for her that renders the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, notably sounds coming from those around you.
The condition is widespread in the UK. A study discovered almost one in five people are affected by it.
Typically it's sounds connected to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, including things like chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "I face so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to ensure the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the most wonderful period can rapidly become a source of agony for those with the condition.
Triggers that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a powerful reaction that can even result in them skipping events entirely.
She, a young adult, who has dealt with misophonia for over a decade, explains the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to cope. Typically, she would frequently go in a separate space to avoid problematic noises.
She explains her condition is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There's an expectation to socialize with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"The sensation is this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
A Few Techniques to Handle It
If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, based on advice from specialists.
- Visualise Something Else: Imagination is essential. Try to associate the particular sound bothering you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a challenge involving the source. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly attempt copying the noise. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to create a little story about the reason someone making the noise is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not in good health or could be emotional. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. While the sound stays the same, your interpretation of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
