The Holiday Season Can Be a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.

One young woman hopes for spending time with her relatives during the festive period, but notes a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her hearing protection - particularly at the holiday meal.

For the 23-year-old, this time of year is a especially challenging time as the auditory triggers of people eating, drinking noisily and breathing heavily trigger extremely uncomfortable.

"I get this feeling of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just freeze and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these noises."

Lottie has experienced misophonia for several years and for her that makes the Christmas time "deeply taxing".

Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, especially noises made by individuals.

It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Researchers discovered almost one in five people experience it.

Often it's noises linked to bodily functions that cause distress, including examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.

A Source of Dread

The sufferer notes: "There are so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you dread it.

"My family are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to ensure the event goes smoothly."

So it's obvious why the most wonderful time of the year can transform into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.

Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can cause a visceral feeling that can even cause them avoiding social settings altogether.

The student, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity for over a decade, explains currently her plan is to use headphones to manage the meal. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to minimize distressing triggers.

She notes her condition is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "difficult".

"There is pressure to socialize with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

"I feel as if this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then the stress response will take over.

"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey unless you've experienced it."

A Few Techniques to Handle It

For those affected then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by clinical psychologists.

1. Picture Something Else: Mental imagery is key. Try to associate the particular sound causing distress with something completely different. So for example, try to picture someone's slurping is just a waterfall. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
2. Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the person. For example, if someone is crunching loudly 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 competition element should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
3. Craft a Story: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was sniffing, 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 noise stays the same, your interpretation of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.