Yuletide Transforms Into a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.

One young woman hopes for spending time with her relatives this Christmas, but notes a key strategy she'll endure is by relying on her earplugs - particularly at Christmas dinner.

For the 23-year-old, Christmas is a notably tough season as the auditory triggers of people eating, sipping loudly and breathing heavily cause her profound anxiety.

"There's this sensation of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just freeze and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these noises."

The individual has lived with sound sensitivity from a young age and for her that makes the holiday period "deeply taxing".

Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, notably sounds coming from other people.

It's surprisingly common in the UK. A study found nearly 20% people experience it.

Typically it's noises linked to eating or drinking that cause distress, along with examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.

'Anxiety Inducing'

Lottie says: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you want to avoid it.

"My relatives are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee others enjoy themselves."

So it's obvious why the traditionally happy time of the year can rapidly become a living nightmare for those with the condition.

Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can provoke a visceral feeling that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.

She, a university student, who has experienced sound sensitivity for over a decade, says the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Usually, she would frequently go in a quiet area to escape distressing triggers.

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

"People assume you to socialize with loved ones, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

"I feel as if this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will take over.

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

Several Strategies to Cope

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

1. Imagine an Alternative: Mental imagery is crucial. Try to associate the triggering sound bothering you with an unrelated image. So for example, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a waterfall. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
2. Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a competition with the culprit. For instance, if someone is eating noisily have a go at joining in. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
3. Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone creating the sound is having to make that sound. So if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not at their best or could be emotional. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the sound stays the same, your understanding of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.