The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.
Lottie anticipates being with her relatives over the holidays, but notes a key strategy she'll endure is by relying on her hearing protection - especially during Christmas dinner.
For her, the holidays often feels like a notably tough season as the noises of family members munching, drinking noisily and nose-blowing cause her extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this feeling of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to manage these sounds."
Lottie has experienced sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that causes the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, particularly those made by individuals.
It's surprisingly common in the UK. Researchers reported almost one in five people are affected by it.
Typically it's noises associated with bodily functions that trigger a reaction, as well as examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.
A Source of Dread
Lottie says: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid it.
"My family are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the most wonderful season can quickly turn into a living nightmare for sufferers.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can cause a powerful reaction that can even cause them avoiding social settings altogether.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with misophonia for over a decade, states her strategy is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Usually, she would frequently go in a different room to minimize triggering sounds.
She explains her misophonia is more intense around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to socialize with family, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"It's like this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then panic will take over.
"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey unless you've experienced it."
Three Ways to Handle It
For those affected then there are various strategies you can attempt to manage the situation, according to specialists.
- Imagine Something Else: Imagination is crucial. Work on connecting the specific noise bothering you with something completely different. So for example, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
- Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a competition with the culprit. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
- Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone creating the sound is doing it. Imagine if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise remains identical, your interpretation of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
