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

A 23-year-old is looking forward to being with her relatives this Christmas, but notes one of the only ways she'll cope is by wearing her hearing protection - particularly at the holiday meal.

For her, the holidays can be a particularly difficult period as the auditory triggers of people eating, slurping and breathing heavily cause her profound anxiety.

"I experience this sensation of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these triggers."

Lottie has lived with sound sensitivity for several years and for her that renders the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".

Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to particular auditory triggers, particularly those coming from other people.

It is prevalent across the population. Researchers discovered a significant portion of people experience it.

Typically it's sounds connected to bodily functions 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 the holidays and that can be stressful and make you fear it.

"My family are aware, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to make sure others enjoy themselves."

So it's clear why the supposedly joyous season can transform into a stressful ordeal for sufferers.

Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can trigger a visceral feeling that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.

Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity since aged 10, states currently her plan is to use headphones to get through dinner. On any other day, she would often retreat in a different room to avoid triggering sounds.

She says her condition is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "hard".

"There is pressure to spend time with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's draining.

"The sensation is this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will take over.

"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."

A Few Techniques to Cope

If you suffer then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, based on advice from clinical psychologists.

1. Visualise a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is crucial. Attempt to link the triggering sound bothering you with an unrelated image. So for example, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you is neutral.
2. Try a Competition: 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, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
3. Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is doing it. Imagine if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not in good health or maybe they're upset. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. While the sound doesn't change, your understanding of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.