Christmas Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.

One young woman hopes for being with her loved ones over the holidays, but admits one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her earplugs - particularly at the main festive feast.

In her case, this time of year can be a especially challenging season as the noises of family members munching, drinking noisily and nose-blowing trigger profound anxiety.

"I get this wave of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to manage these triggers."

Lottie has experienced this condition for several years and for her that causes the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".

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

It's surprisingly common across the population. A study reported almost one in five people are affected by it.

Often it's noises connected to bodily functions that lead to discomfort, as well as things like crunching, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.

A Source of Dread

Lottie says: "I face so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you want to avoid it.

"My relatives are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to ensure the event goes smoothly."

So it's obvious why the traditionally happy season can rapidly become a stressful ordeal for affected individuals.

Noises that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can trigger a visceral feeling that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.

Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with misophonia from childhood, states currently her plan is to use headphones to get through dinner. Typically, she would frequently go in a quiet area to escape problematic noises.

She explains her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".

"There's an expectation to spend time with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

"It's like this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel stressed and burst into tears and then the stress response will take over.

"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's hard to explain if you haven't felt it."

Three Ways to Handle It

If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by specialists.

1. Imagine a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is key. Try to associate the particular sound affecting you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
2. Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a competition involving the source. As an example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at mimicking the sound. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
3. Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is behaving that way. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not feeling well or are troubled. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. While the noise doesn't change, your interpretation of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.