Christmas Transforms Into a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.

Lottie is looking forward to seeing her relatives this Christmas, but says a key strategy she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her earplugs - especially during the main festive feast.

In her case, this time of year is a particularly difficult time as the sounds of people eating, sipping loudly and breathing heavily make her feel extremely uncomfortable.

"I experience this sensation of instant dread, my every muscle will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to manage these triggers."

She has experienced sound sensitivity from a young age and for her that causes the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".

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

It is prevalent in the UK. Experts discovered almost one in five people are affected by it.

Frequently it's noises connected to bodily functions that cause distress, along with things like chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.

Triggering Stress

Lottie says: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you fear it.

"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to make sure others enjoy themselves."

So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy period can rapidly become a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.

Noises that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can provoke a powerful reaction that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.

Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with misophonia since aged 10, states currently her plan is to listen to music to manage the meal. On any other day, she would often retreat in a quiet area to minimize problematic noises.

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

"There is pressure to socialize with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

"I feel as if this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will take over.

"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

If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by clinical psychologists.

1. Visualise a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is key. Attempt to link the particular sound bothering you with an unrelated image. So for example, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a waterfall. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
2. Try a Competition: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a game with the person. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt copying the noise. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
3. Craft a Story: One more method is to try to invent a reason about why the person making the noise is doing it. So if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not at their best or are troubled. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. Although the sound doesn't change, your reaction of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.