Christmas Can Be a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.

Lottie hopes for being with her loved ones over the holidays, but notes a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her earplugs - particularly at the holiday meal.

In her case, this time of year often feels like a especially challenging season as the noises of family members munching, sipping loudly and breathing heavily make her feel profound anxiety.

"I get this wave of instant dread, my entire being will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these sounds."

The individual has experienced this condition since she was 16 and for her that causes the festive season "exceptionally stressful".

Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, particularly those coming from other people.

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

Frequently it's sounds connected to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, as well as things like crunching, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.

A Source of Dread

Lottie says: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you dread it.

"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to guarantee the event goes smoothly."

So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy time of the year can quickly turn into a source of agony for sufferers.

Triggers that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can provoke a visceral feeling that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.

The student, a young adult, who has dealt with misophonia since aged 10, says the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. On any other day, she would often retreat in a different room to escape triggering sounds.

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

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

"The sensation is this uncontrollable anger comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will activate.

"It can come across as if I'm being unreasonable and overreacting, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."

Three Ways to Handle It

If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by specialists.

1. Imagine a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is key. Try to associate the triggering sound bothering you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
2. Try a Competition: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a game with the culprit. For example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt joining in. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
3. Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about why the person making the noise is doing it. For example if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the sound doesn't change, your interpretation of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.