Yuletide Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.

A 23-year-old anticipates spending time with her loved ones this Christmas, but admits a primary method she'll endure is by wearing her earplugs - especially during Christmas dinner.

In her case, this time of year is a especially challenging period as the sounds of people eating, slurping and breathing heavily make her feel extremely uncomfortable.

"I get this sensation of instant dread, my every muscle will just freeze and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to manage these triggers."

The individual has experienced sound sensitivity for several years and for her that makes the festive season "deeply taxing".

Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, particularly those coming from other people.

The condition is widespread in the UK. Researchers found a significant portion of people experience it.

Often it's sounds connected to bodily functions that cause distress, including examples such as crunching, breathing, and pen clicking.

'Anxiety Inducing'

The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you dread it.

"My relatives are aware, 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 ensure the event goes smoothly."

So it's obvious why the most wonderful time of the year can transform into a source of agony for sufferers.

Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can cause a powerful reaction that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.

Jenna, a young adult, who has struggled with sound sensitivity for over a decade, says the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to cope. Typically, she would often retreat in a quiet area to escape problematic noises.

She says her sensitivity is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "challenging".

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

"I feel as if this uncontrollable anger takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then panic will kick in.

"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."

Three Ways to Cope

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

1. Imagine Something Else: Creative thinking is crucial. Attempt to link the specific noise causing distress with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to envision someone's slurping is just a waterfall. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you is neutral.
2. Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a competition with the person. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt copying the noise. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
3. Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about the reason someone 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. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Although the noise stays the same, your understanding of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.