The Holiday Season Often Proves to Be a Living Hell for Misophonia Sufferers.

A 23-year-old hopes for spending time with her family during the festive period, but admits a primary method she'll endure is by relying on her hearing protection - notably for the main festive feast.

For the 23-year-old, Christmas often feels like a notably tough period as the sounds of other people chewing, drinking noisily and breathing heavily cause her intense distress.

"I get this wave of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to manage these triggers."

The individual has lived with this condition since she was 16 and for her that causes the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".

Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, particularly those coming from other people.

It is prevalent across the population. Researchers found a significant portion of people are affected by it.

Often it's sounds connected to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, along with examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.

'Anxiety Inducing'

Lottie says: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.

"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to ensure others enjoy themselves."

So it's clear why the most wonderful season can rapidly become a living nightmare for affected individuals.

Triggers that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a visceral feeling that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.

The student, a university student, who has experienced misophonia for over a decade, says her strategy is to use headphones to get through dinner. On any other day, she would frequently go in a separate space to minimize problematic noises.

She notes her condition is more intense around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "challenging".

"There's an expectation to spend time with family, and I want to, but it's draining.

"I feel as if this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then panic will activate.

"It may seem as if I'm being unreasonable and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."

Three Ways to Manage

For those affected then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by experts.

1. Picture an Alternative: Creative thinking is key. Attempt to link the specific noise affecting you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to envision someone's slurping 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: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the person. As an example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at mimicking the sound. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
3. Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is behaving that way. So if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not feeling well or are troubled. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. While the noise doesn't change, your interpretation of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.