Christmas Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.

One young woman is looking forward to spending time with her relatives over the holidays, but notes a primary method she'll endure is by using her noise-cancelling devices - notably for Christmas dinner.

For her, Christmas can be a particularly difficult season as the noises of other people chewing, sipping loudly and nose-blowing trigger extremely uncomfortable.

"There's this sensation of sudden panic, my entire being will just tense up and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to manage these sounds."

Lottie has suffered from sound sensitivity for several years and for her that renders the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".

Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, particularly those coming from other people.

It's surprisingly common across the population. Researchers found nearly 20% people experience it.

Often it's noises connected to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, as well as examples such as chewing, breathing, and pen clicking.

'Anxiety Inducing'

She explains: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.

"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a constant struggle of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure the event goes smoothly."

So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy period can quickly turn into a source of agony for those with the condition.

Noises that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a powerful reaction that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.

The student, a young adult, who has struggled with misophonia from childhood, explains currently her plan is to put her earphones in to cope. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to avoid problematic noises.

She says her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "challenging".

"There is pressure to socialize with family, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

"The sensation is this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then panic will take over.

"It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey unless you've experienced it."

Three Ways to Cope

For those affected then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by experts.

1. Visualise Something Else: Imagination is crucial. Attempt to link the specific noise bothering you with an unrelated image. 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 is neutral.
2. Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the culprit. For example, if someone is eating noisily try joining in. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
3. Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone making the noise is doing it. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. While the sound remains identical, your interpretation of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.