Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.

Lottie anticipates seeing her relatives during the festive period, but admits a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at Christmas dinner.

For her, Christmas can be a notably tough season as the noises of other people chewing, slurping and nose-blowing cause her intense distress.

"I get this sensation of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just freeze and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these triggers."

She has lived with this condition for several years and for her that renders the festive season "deeply taxing".

Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to particular auditory triggers, especially noises produced by other people.

The condition is widespread across the population. Researchers reported almost one in five people suffer from it.

Often it's sounds connected to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, along with things like crunching, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.

A Source of Dread

Lottie says: "I face so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you want to avoid it.

"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to guarantee the event goes smoothly."

So it's clear why the most wonderful period can transform into a source of agony for affected individuals.

Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a visceral feeling that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.

Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced misophonia since aged 10, states currently her plan is to listen to music to manage the meal. Usually, she would often retreat in a separate space to avoid triggering sounds.

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

"People assume you to socialize with family, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

"It's like this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then panic will activate.

"To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."

A Few Techniques to Manage

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

1. Picture Something Else: Imagination is crucial. Try to associate the triggering sound affecting you with an unrelated image. As an illustration, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
2. Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the person. For example, if someone is eating noisily try joining in. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
3. Create a Scenario: One more method is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone creating the sound is having to make that sound. So if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not in good health or could be emotional. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the noise remains identical, your interpretation of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.