Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.

Lottie hopes for spending time with her family over the holidays, but notes a primary method she'll cope is by using her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the main festive feast.

In her case, Christmas is a notably tough time as the sounds of other people chewing, slurping and nose-blowing cause her profound anxiety.

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

She has lived with this condition from a young age and for her that causes the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".

Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, particularly those coming from other people.

The condition is widespread across the population. A study discovered almost one in five people are affected by it.

Typically it's noises connected to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, along with things like chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.

Triggering Stress

The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.

"My relatives are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to ensure everyone else is happy."

So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous time of the year can quickly turn into a source of agony for those with the condition.

Noises that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a powerful reaction that can even cause them avoiding social settings altogether.

She, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with misophonia since aged 10, says currently her plan is to put her earphones in to cope. Usually, she would frequently go in a different room to avoid distressing triggers.

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

"There is pressure to be around loved ones, and I wish to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

"The sensation is this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will take over.

"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's hard to explain if you haven't felt it."

A Few Techniques to Handle It

If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, according to clinical psychologists.

1. Picture Something Else: Mental imagery is crucial. Work on connecting the specific noise causing distress with an unrelated image. So for example, try to envision someone's slurping is just a waterfall. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
2. Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a challenge involving the source. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly try mimicking the sound. Through participation, 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. Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to create a little story about the reason someone making the noise is doing it. Imagine if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not at their best or could be emotional. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. Although the noise doesn't change, your understanding of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.