Christmas Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.

A 23-year-old hopes for spending time with her loved ones over the holidays, but notes a primary method she'll cope is by relying on her hearing protection - particularly at the holiday meal.

For the 23-year-old, the holidays can be a especially challenging period as the noises of family members munching, sipping loudly and sniffling make her feel extremely uncomfortable.

"I get this sensation 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 triggers."

The individual has experienced misophonia from a young age and for her that causes the Christmas time "deeply taxing".

Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, particularly those produced by individuals.

It is prevalent in the UK. Researchers discovered almost one in five people are affected by it.

Typically it's noises connected to bodily functions that cause distress, including things like chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.

A Source of Dread

Lottie says: "There are so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.

"My family are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure everyone else is happy."

So it's clear why the traditionally happy time of the year can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.

Noises that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a powerful reaction that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.

The student, a young adult, who has experienced sound sensitivity from childhood, explains her strategy is to use headphones to manage the meal. Typically, she would frequently go in a different room to avoid distressing triggers.

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

"There's an expectation to be around loved ones, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

"I feel as if this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will activate.

"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."

Three Ways to Cope

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

1. Imagine an Alternative: Imagination is key. Try to associate the specific noise affecting you with an unrelated image. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you is neutral.
2. Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a competition with the culprit. For example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt joining in. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
3. Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. For example if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not in good health or maybe they're upset. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. While the sound doesn't change, your understanding of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.