The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers.

One young woman is looking forward to being with her relatives during the festive period, but says one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the holiday meal.

In her case, this time of year can be a particularly difficult season as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, drinking noisily and breathing heavily trigger extremely uncomfortable.

"There's this sensation of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just tighten and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to manage these noises."

Lottie has lived with sound sensitivity from a young age and for her that renders the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".

Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to particular auditory triggers, especially noises produced by other people.

It's surprisingly common in the UK. A study discovered almost one in five people are affected by it.

Often it's sounds connected to bodily functions that cause distress, including things like chewing, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.

Triggering Stress

The sufferer notes: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you want to avoid it.

"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to make sure others enjoy themselves."

So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy time of the year can transform into a living nightmare for affected individuals.

Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a powerful reaction that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.

She, a university student, who has experienced sound sensitivity from childhood, states the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to cope. On any other day, she would frequently go in a quiet area to avoid distressing triggers.

She says her misophonia is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "hard".

"There's an expectation to be around family, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.

"The sensation is this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then panic will kick in.

"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."

A Few Techniques to Manage

If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by specialists.

1. Picture a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is essential. Attempt to link the specific noise causing distress with something completely different. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a waterfall. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you is neutral.
2. Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a game involving the source. As an example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at copying the noise. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
3. Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is doing it. For example if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not at their best or could be emotional. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the sound stays the same, your reaction of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.