Yuletide Can Be a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.

One young woman is looking forward to being with her relatives this Christmas, but notes a primary method she'll endure is by using her noise-cancelling devices - especially during the holiday meal.

For her, this time of year is a notably tough period as the sounds of family members munching, drinking noisily and sniffling make her feel profound anxiety.

"I experience this wave of sudden panic, my every muscle will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these sounds."

Lottie has experienced sound sensitivity for several years and for her that causes the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".

Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, especially noises made by other people.

It's surprisingly common across the population. A study discovered nearly 20% people are affected by it.

Often it's noises associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, including examples such as chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.

'Anxiety Inducing'

The sufferer notes: "I face so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you dread it.

"My family are supportive, 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 ensure others enjoy themselves."

So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy season can rapidly become a stressful ordeal for affected individuals.

Triggers that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a strong emotional response that can even cause them skipping events entirely.

The student, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced misophonia for over a decade, says currently her plan is to listen to music to manage the meal. On any other day, she would often retreat in a quiet area to minimize problematic noises.

She explains her misophonia is more intense around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "difficult".

"There is pressure to be around family, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

"It's like this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then panic will take over.

"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."

Several Strategies to Manage

For those affected then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, according to clinical psychologists.

1. Imagine Something Else: Creative thinking is key. Attempt to link the specific noise bothering you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you is neutral.
2. Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the person. For example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at joining in. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
3. Craft a Story: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is doing it. For example if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not in good health or could be emotional. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. Although the sound doesn't change, your understanding of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.