Christmas Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers.

A 23-year-old is looking forward to spending time with her loved ones this Christmas, but says a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the main festive feast.

For the 23-year-old, Christmas can be a especially challenging time as the noises of people eating, drinking noisily and sniffling cause her profound anxiety.

"There's this sensation of instant dread, my whole body will just tense up and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to manage these sounds."

The individual has suffered from sound sensitivity for several years and for her that causes the holiday period "deeply taxing".

Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, particularly those made by other people.

The condition is widespread amongst adults. Researchers found a significant portion of people suffer from it.

Frequently it's noises connected to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, as well as things like crunching, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.

'Anxiety Inducing'

Lottie says: "I face so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.

"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee everyone else is happy."

So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous season can rapidly become a source of agony for sufferers.

Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a strong emotional response that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.

Jenna, a young adult, who has struggled with sound sensitivity for over a decade, states the approach she intends to use is to use headphones to manage the meal. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to escape triggering sounds.

She notes her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "difficult".

"There's an expectation to spend time with family, and I want 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 stressed and begin to weep and then panic will kick in.

"It can come across as if I'm being unreasonable and overreacting, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."

Several Strategies to Manage

For those affected then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, based on advice from experts.

1. Visualise a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is key. Attempt to link the particular sound causing distress with something completely different. So for example, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a waterfall. This technique is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you is neutral.
2. Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the culprit. For instance, if someone is eating noisily have a go at joining in. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the challenge 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 having to make that sound. So if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not feeling well or are troubled. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. While the noise doesn't change, your interpretation of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.