Lottie is looking forward to spending time with her loved ones this Christmas, but admits a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by using her earplugs - particularly at the holiday meal.
For her, this time of year often feels like a especially challenging season as the noises of people eating, sipping loudly and sniffling cause her extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this feeling of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tense up and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these triggers."
Lottie has suffered from sound sensitivity from a young age and for her that renders the festive season "exceptionally stressful".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, especially noises made by those around you.
The condition is widespread amongst adults. A study found nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Typically it's noises connected to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, including examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you fear it.
"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to ensure others enjoy themselves."
So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous period can rapidly become a living nightmare for affected individuals.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a visceral feeling that can even result in them skipping events entirely.
Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity since aged 10, explains currently her plan is to listen to music to get through dinner. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to escape problematic noises.
She explains her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"People assume you to socialize with family, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"I feel as if this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then the stress response will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Manage
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, based on advice from experts.
- Picture a Different Scenario: Imagination is crucial. Try to associate the specific noise causing distress with something completely different. As an illustration, try to picture someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
- Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the person. For instance, if someone is eating noisily try copying the noise. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not in good health or are troubled. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the sound stays the same, your interpretation of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.
