Christmas Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.

One young woman hopes for being with her relatives over the holidays, but says one of the only ways she'll cope is by using her hearing protection - notably for Christmas dinner.

For the 23-year-old, this time of year often feels like a particularly difficult season as the sounds of other people chewing, drinking noisily and sniffling make her feel extremely uncomfortable.

"I experience this sensation of sudden panic, my every muscle will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these triggers."

Lottie has suffered from misophonia for several years and for her that makes the holiday period "deeply taxing".

Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, especially noises produced by individuals.

It is prevalent amongst adults. Researchers reported almost one in five people are affected by it.

Typically it's sounds linked to bodily functions that cause distress, including things like chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.

Triggering Stress

Lottie says: "I face so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.

"My family are understanding, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure the event goes smoothly."

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

Noises that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can provoke a strong emotional response that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.

The student, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced sound sensitivity since aged 10, states currently her plan is to use headphones to manage the meal. Typically, she would frequently go in a separate space to avoid problematic noises.

She says her condition is more intense around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "difficult".

"People assume you to be around family, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.

"I feel as if this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and immediately start crying and then the stress response will activate.

"It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."

Three Ways to Cope

If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by clinical psychologists.

1. Visualise an Alternative: Creative thinking is key. Work on connecting the triggering sound bothering you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
2. Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a challenge involving the source. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
3. Craft a Story: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not feeling well or could be emotional. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the sound stays the same, your reaction of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.