The Holiday Season Often Proves to Be a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.

One young woman hopes for spending time with her relatives this Christmas, but admits a primary method she'll endure is by relying on her earplugs - notably for the holiday meal.

For her, Christmas can be a notably tough time as the noises of family members munching, drinking noisily and nose-blowing trigger profound anxiety.

"There's this sensation of instant dread, my every muscle will just freeze and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to manage these noises."

Lottie has lived with this condition for several years and for her that makes the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".

Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, especially noises coming from other people.

It is prevalent in the UK. A study reported almost one in five people suffer from it.

Typically it's sounds connected to bodily functions that lead to discomfort, including things like crunching, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.

'Anxiety Inducing'

The sufferer notes: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid 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 internal conflict of managing my symptoms to ensure the event goes smoothly."

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

Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can trigger a strong emotional response that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.

The student, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced misophonia for over a decade, explains currently her plan is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to avoid problematic noises.

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

"There is pressure to socialize with family, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.

"The sensation is this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will kick in.

"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."

Several Strategies to Handle It

For those affected then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, based on advice from specialists.

1. Picture a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is crucial. Attempt to link the particular sound affecting you with an unrelated image. As an illustration, try to picture someone's slurping is just a waterfall. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
2. Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the person. For example, if someone is eating noisily try copying the noise. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
3. Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not feeling well or could be emotional. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the sound doesn't change, your reaction of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.