Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.

One young woman is looking forward to being with her relatives over the holidays, but notes a primary method she'll endure is by relying on her earplugs - particularly at the holiday meal.

In her case, the holidays is a particularly difficult time as the auditory triggers of people eating, sipping loudly and nose-blowing cause her profound anxiety.

"I experience this sensation of instant dread, my every muscle will just tighten and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to manage these triggers."

Lottie has lived with sound sensitivity for several years and for her that makes the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".

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

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

Often it's sounds linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that cause distress, including examples such as crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.

A Source of Dread

The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you fear it.

"My family are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a constant struggle of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee everyone else is happy."

So it's easy to understand why the supposedly joyous period can rapidly become a source of agony for those with the condition.

Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a visceral feeling that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.

She, a university student, who has experienced sound sensitivity since aged 10, explains the approach she intends to use is to use headphones to manage the meal. On any other day, she would often retreat in a quiet area to escape problematic noises.

She explains her sensitivity is worse around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "difficult".

"People assume you to spend time with family, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

"I feel as if this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then panic will activate.

"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."

A Few Techniques to Manage

If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, based on advice from specialists.

1. Visualise a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is essential. Attempt to link the triggering sound bothering you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to envision someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you is neutral.
2. Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a challenge involving the source. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at joining in. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
3. Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone making the noise is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not feeling well or maybe they're upset. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. While the sound doesn't change, your understanding of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.