Yuletide Transforms Into a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.
Lottie hopes for seeing her loved ones during the festive period, but notes one of the only ways she'll endure is by wearing her earplugs - particularly at the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays can be a notably tough time as the noises of other people chewing, slurping and breathing heavily cause her profound anxiety.
"I experience this sensation of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to manage these triggers."
Lottie has lived with this condition for several years and for her that causes the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, notably sounds produced by other people.
It is prevalent amongst adults. Experts found a significant portion of people experience it.
Frequently it's noises associated with eating or drinking that cause distress, along with examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.
A Source of Dread
Lottie says: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you dread it.
"My family are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy season can rapidly become a stressful ordeal for sufferers.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a powerful reaction that can even cause them skipping events entirely.
The student, a university student, who has dealt with misophonia since aged 10, says her strategy is to listen to music to cope. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to avoid triggering sounds.
She explains her condition is more intense around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "hard".
"People assume you to be around loved ones, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"I feel as if this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will kick in.
"It may seem as if I'm being unreasonable and overreacting, but it's difficult to convey unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, based on advice from experts.
- Imagine Something Else: Imagination is essential. Try to associate the triggering sound bothering you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the person. For example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at copying the noise. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone making the noise is doing it. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not at their best or could be emotional. By doing this is re-framing the context of the sound. While the sound doesn't change, your interpretation of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
