Christmas Can Be a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.

One young woman is looking forward to being with her loved ones during the festive period, but says a key strategy she'll manage to get through it is by using her earplugs - especially during the main festive feast.

For the 23-year-old, the holidays can be a particularly difficult time as the sounds of people eating, slurping and sniffling trigger extremely uncomfortable.

"There's this sensation of instant dread, my every muscle will just tense up and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to manage these triggers."

She has experienced sound sensitivity from a young age and for her that makes the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".

Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, particularly those made by those around you.

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

Typically it's sounds associated with bodily functions that trigger a reaction, along with examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.

'Anxiety Inducing'

She explains: "You encounter so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you fear it.

"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to guarantee others enjoy themselves."

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

Triggers that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a strong emotional response that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.

She, a young adult, who has dealt with misophonia from childhood, states currently her plan is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to avoid problematic noises.

She notes her sensitivity is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "difficult".

"People assume you to socialize with loved ones, and I want to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.

"It's like this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will activate.

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

Three Ways to Manage

For those affected then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, according to experts.

1. Picture Something Else: Imagination is crucial. Attempt to link the triggering sound affecting you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
2. Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the person. For example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at copying the noise. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
3. Craft a Story: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is having to make that sound. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. Even though the sound doesn't change, your interpretation of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.