Yuletide Can Be a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.

A 23-year-old hopes for being with her loved ones this Christmas, but says a key strategy she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her earplugs - notably for the main festive feast.

In her case, the holidays can be a notably tough period as the sounds of other people chewing, sipping loudly and sniffling make her feel extremely uncomfortable.

"There's this sensation of sudden panic, my whole body will just tense up and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to manage these noises."

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

Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, notably sounds made by individuals.

It is prevalent across the population. Researchers discovered nearly 20% people suffer from it.

Typically it's sounds linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that cause distress, along with things like crunching, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.

'Anxiety Inducing'

The sufferer notes: "I face so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.

"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee everyone else is happy."

So it's obvious why the traditionally happy time of the year can transform into a source of agony for affected individuals.

Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a strong emotional response that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.

The student, a university student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity from childhood, explains the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to manage the meal. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to avoid triggering sounds.

She notes her misophonia is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "challenging".

"There's an expectation to spend time with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

"The sensation is this uncontrollable anger takes hold, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel stressed and burst into tears and then panic will activate.

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

Several Strategies to Cope

For those affected then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by specialists.

1. Visualise an Alternative: Mental imagery is essential. Work on connecting the particular sound affecting you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you is neutral.
2. Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a competition involving the source. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at copying the noise. By mimicking, 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 a little less affected.
3. Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about why the person making the noise is behaving that way. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not feeling well or could be emotional. This approach 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.