Christmas Transforms Into a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.
Lottie anticipates being with her relatives during the festive period, but says a primary method she'll endure is by using her earplugs - notably for the main festive feast.
In her case, this time of year can be a notably tough time as the noises of family members munching, slurping and nose-blowing cause her intense distress.
"I experience this feeling of sudden panic, my whole body will just tense up and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to manage these triggers."
She has lived with sound sensitivity for several years and for her that renders the Christmas time "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, particularly those produced by other people.
The condition is widespread across the population. Researchers reported nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Frequently it's noises connected to bodily functions that lead to discomfort, including examples such as crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
Lottie says: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you want to avoid it.
"My relatives are aware, 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 the event goes smoothly."
So it's clear why the traditionally happy season can rapidly become a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a strong emotional response that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a university student, who has experienced sound sensitivity for over a decade, says currently her plan is to use headphones to get through dinner. Typically, she would often retreat in a different room to avoid distressing triggers.
She says her sensitivity is more intense around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"There's an expectation to be around loved ones, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel stressed and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will take over.
"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey unless you've experienced it."
A Few Techniques to Handle It
If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, according to specialists.
- Imagine Something Else: Mental imagery is crucial. Try to associate the particular sound bothering you with something completely different. For instance, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the culprit. For example, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not feeling well or maybe they're upset. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the sound doesn't change, your understanding of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.