Christmas Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.

A 23-year-old is looking forward to spending time with her family during the festive period, but admits a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by using her earplugs - notably for the main festive feast.

For the 23-year-old, the holidays can be a especially challenging time as the noises of family members munching, sipping loudly and sniffling cause her intense distress.

"I experience this feeling of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these triggers."

The individual has lived with this condition for several years and for her that causes the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".

Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, notably sounds coming from other people.

The condition is widespread in the UK. Researchers discovered a significant portion of people experience it.

Typically it's sounds linked to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, as well as examples such as crunching, breathing, and foot tapping.

A Source of Dread

Lottie says: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you dread it.

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

So it's easy to understand why the most wonderful period can rapidly become a living nightmare for affected individuals.

Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can provoke a powerful reaction that can even cause them avoiding social settings altogether.

The student, a university student, who has experienced misophonia for over a decade, states currently her plan is to use headphones to manage the meal. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to avoid triggering sounds.

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

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

"It's like this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will activate.

"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."

A Few Techniques to Cope

For those affected then there are various strategies you can attempt to manage the situation, according to specialists.

1. Picture a Different Scenario: Imagination is essential. Work on connecting the particular sound affecting you with an unrelated image. As an illustration, try to envision someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
2. Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a competition with the person. For instance, if someone is eating noisily try joining in. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you slightly more tolerant.
3. Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is doing it. Imagine if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not in good health or maybe they're upset. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the noise doesn't change, your reaction of it changes from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.