Christmas Can Be a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.

One young woman is looking forward to spending time with her loved ones this Christmas, but says a key strategy she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her noise-cancelling devices - especially during the holiday meal.

For the 23-year-old, Christmas is a notably tough season as the auditory triggers of people eating, slurping and breathing heavily cause her intense distress.

"There's this feeling of sudden panic, my entire being will just tense up and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to stop these triggers."

The individual has lived with sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that renders the festive season "exceptionally stressful".

Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, especially noises made by those around you.

It is prevalent in the UK. Researchers found almost one in five people experience it.

Frequently it's sounds connected to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, along with examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.

A Source of Dread

Lottie says: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.

"My relatives are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure everyone else is happy."

So it's easy to understand why the supposedly joyous time of the year can rapidly become a living nightmare for those with the condition.

Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can cause a powerful reaction that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.

Jenna, a university student, who has experienced misophonia from childhood, explains her strategy is to put her earphones in to cope. Usually, she would often retreat in a different room to avoid triggering sounds.

She notes her sensitivity is more intense around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "difficult".

"People assume you to spend time with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's draining.

"It's like this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then the stress response will activate.

"It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."

Several Strategies to Manage

For those affected then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, based on advice from experts.

1. Imagine an Alternative: Imagination is key. Work on connecting the particular sound affecting you with an unrelated image. As an illustration, try to envision someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
2. Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a competition involving the source. For example, if someone is eating noisily attempt joining in. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
3. Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone making the noise is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not feeling well or maybe they're upset. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. Although the sound remains identical, your interpretation of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.