Yuletide Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers.

One young woman anticipates spending time with her family over the holidays, but notes a primary method she'll endure is by wearing her hearing protection - especially during the main festive feast.

In her case, Christmas can be a especially challenging period as the sounds of people eating, slurping and nose-blowing make her feel profound anxiety.

"I get this wave of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just freeze and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to manage these sounds."

The individual has suffered from this condition for several years and for her that causes the festive season "deeply taxing".

Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, notably sounds produced by those around you.

The condition is widespread in the UK. A study discovered a significant portion of people suffer from it.

Often it's sounds associated with eating or drinking that cause distress, along with examples such as crunching, breathing, and foot tapping.

'Anxiety Inducing'

Lottie says: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you want to avoid it.

"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to guarantee the event goes smoothly."

So it's clear why the most wonderful season can quickly turn into a source of agony for affected individuals.

Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a powerful reaction that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.

She, a university student, who has experienced misophonia since aged 10, states her strategy is to use headphones to get through dinner. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to avoid problematic noises.

She says her misophonia is worse around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "difficult".

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

"The sensation is this uncontrollable anger comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then panic will kick in.

"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."

Three Ways to Manage

If you suffer then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, according to experts.

1. Visualise an Alternative: Mental imagery is crucial. Attempt to link the particular sound causing distress with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you is neutral.
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 attempt copying the noise. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
3. Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone creating the sound is behaving that way. For example if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not in good health or are troubled. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. While the noise stays the same, your interpretation of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.