Yuletide Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers.
A 23-year-old is looking forward to spending time with her family during the festive period, but says one of the only ways she'll endure is by relying on her hearing protection - notably for the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays often feels like a particularly difficult time as the sounds of other people chewing, slurping and nose-blowing cause her extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this feeling of sudden panic, my entire being will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these noises."
The individual has experienced sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that renders the festive season "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, particularly those made by other people.
The condition is widespread in the UK. Researchers reported nearly 20% people suffer from it.
Typically it's noises linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, as well as examples such as chewing, breathing, and pen clicking.
'Anxiety Inducing'
Lottie says: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to make sure the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous period can transform into a source of agony for sufferers.
Noises that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a visceral feeling that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.
Jenna, a young adult, who has experienced sound sensitivity since aged 10, says her strategy is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. On any other day, she would often retreat in a quiet area to escape triggering sounds.
She notes her condition is more pronounced around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "challenging".
"People assume you to be around loved ones, and I wish to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"The sensation is this uncontrollable anger takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."
Three Ways to Manage
For those affected then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by experts.
- Picture Something Else: Mental imagery is crucial. Try to associate the triggering sound affecting you with an unrelated image. For instance, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a game with the culprit. For instance, if someone is eating noisily have a go at mimicking the sound. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about why the person creating the sound is doing it. For example if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not at their best or are troubled. By doing this is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise doesn't change, your reaction of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
