Christmas Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.
A 23-year-old hopes for being with her loved ones over the holidays, but says one of the only ways she'll cope is by using her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year often feels like a particularly difficult period as the noises of family members munching, sipping loudly and nose-blowing trigger profound anxiety.
"I experience this feeling of instant dread, my every muscle will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to stop these triggers."
Lottie has suffered from misophonia for several years and for her that renders the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, especially noises produced by those around you.
It is prevalent amongst adults. A study reported almost one in five people are affected by it.
Frequently it's noises associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that cause distress, including things like chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
A Source of Dread
She explains: "I face so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you fear it.
"My family are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to guarantee the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the most wonderful time of the year can quickly turn into a living nightmare for affected individuals.
Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can provoke a visceral feeling that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.
She, a university student, who has dealt with misophonia since aged 10, explains the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. On any other day, she would frequently go in a different room to escape problematic noises.
She explains her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to socialize with family, and I wish to, but it's draining.
"The sensation is this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and burst into tears and then panic will activate.
"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."
Three Ways to Manage
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, based on advice from clinical psychologists.
- Picture Something Else: Creative thinking is essential. Work on connecting the triggering sound bothering you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a competition with the person. For instance, if someone is eating noisily try joining in. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation 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 are troubled. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. While the sound remains identical, your interpretation of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.