Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.
Lottie anticipates spending time with her relatives over the holidays, but notes a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by using her earplugs - especially during the main festive feast.
In her case, this time of year often feels like a particularly difficult season as the sounds of family members munching, slurping and nose-blowing make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"There's this sensation of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to stop these sounds."
She has experienced sound sensitivity from a young age and for her that causes the holiday period "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, particularly those coming from individuals.
The condition is widespread in the UK. Experts discovered nearly 20% people suffer from it.
Typically it's sounds connected to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, as well as things like chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
She explains: "There are so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you dread it.
"My family are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to guarantee the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the supposedly joyous time of the year can quickly turn into a source of agony for sufferers.
Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can cause a powerful reaction that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.
Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity for over a decade, says her strategy is to listen to music to cope. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to minimize triggering sounds.
She notes her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"People assume you to be around family, and I desire to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then panic will activate.
"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Manage
If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, according to clinical psychologists.
- Imagine Something Else: Creative thinking is essential. Try to associate the particular sound bothering you with something completely different. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the person. For example, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to create a little story about the reason someone making the noise is having to make that sound. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not at their best or could be emotional. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Although the noise remains identical, your interpretation of it changes from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
