Christmas Can Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.

A 23-year-old anticipates being with her family over the holidays, but notes a primary method she'll endure is by using her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at Christmas dinner.

For her, this time of year can be a especially challenging period as the sounds of family members munching, slurping and sniffling cause her profound anxiety.

"There's this wave of sudden panic, my every muscle will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to manage these sounds."

The individual has lived with sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that makes the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".

Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, especially noises coming from those around you.

It is prevalent 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 lead to discomfort, along with examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.

Triggering Stress

Lottie says: "I face so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.

"My relatives are understanding, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to make sure the event goes smoothly."

So it's easy to understand why the most wonderful season can transform into a source of agony for those with the condition.

Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a visceral feeling that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.

She, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with misophonia since aged 10, says currently her plan is to listen to music to manage the meal. Typically, she would frequently go in a different room to avoid triggering sounds.

She says her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "challenging".

"There's an expectation to socialize with loved ones, and I want to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.

"It's like this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will take over.

"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."

Several Strategies to Handle It

If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by specialists.

1. Visualise a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is essential. Work on connecting the particular sound affecting you with an unrelated image. For instance, try to envision someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you is neutral.
2. Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a competition with the culprit. For instance, if someone is eating noisily attempt mimicking the sound. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect 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 the reason someone creating the sound is doing it. Imagine if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not feeling well or maybe they're upset. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. While the noise stays the same, your understanding of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.