Yuletide Transforms Into a Living Hell for Misophonia Sufferers.
Lottie hopes for being with her loved ones over the holidays, but admits a key strategy she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her earplugs - especially during the holiday meal.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year is a notably tough period as the sounds of family members munching, slurping and breathing heavily cause her intense distress.
"I experience this wave of instant dread, my whole body will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these sounds."
The individual has experienced this condition since she was 16 and for her that renders the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, particularly those made by other people.
The condition is widespread amongst adults. Researchers discovered almost one in five people suffer from it.
Typically it's noises connected to mouth, throat or facial movements that lead to discomfort, as well as things like chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you dread it.
"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure others enjoy themselves."
So it's easy to understand why the most wonderful season can rapidly become a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can trigger a visceral feeling that can even cause them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a young adult, who has experienced misophonia from childhood, explains currently her plan is to use headphones to manage the meal. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to escape triggering sounds.
She explains her condition is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to spend time with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and burst into tears and then the stress response will take over.
"It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
Three Ways to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by clinical psychologists.
- Picture a Different Scenario: Imagination is key. Work on connecting the triggering sound causing distress with a neutral concept. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a game with the person. For instance, if someone is eating noisily try mimicking the sound. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: One more method is to try to create a little story about the reason someone creating the sound is having to make that sound. So if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not at their best or are troubled. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise doesn't change, your understanding of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.
