Christmas Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.

A 23-year-old hopes for being with her relatives over the holidays, but admits a primary method she'll cope is by wearing her hearing protection - especially during the holiday meal.

For the 23-year-old, the holidays can be a especially challenging period as the sounds of people eating, sipping loudly and breathing heavily make her feel intense distress.

"I experience this wave of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tense up and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to manage these triggers."

The individual has lived with misophonia since she was 16 and for her that renders the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".

Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, notably sounds coming from other people.

The condition is widespread amongst adults. Experts found nearly 20% people are affected by it.

Often it's noises linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, as well as things like crunching, breathing, and foot tapping.

'Anxiety Inducing'

She explains: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid it.

"My relatives are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to ensure everyone else is happy."

So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous period can transform into a source of agony for those with the condition.

Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can cause a powerful reaction that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.

The student, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity from childhood, explains the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to cope. Typically, she would often retreat in a quiet area to minimize triggering sounds.

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

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

"The sensation is this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then panic will take over.

"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."

Three Ways to Cope

For those affected then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, based on advice from specialists.

1. Picture a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is crucial. Attempt to link the triggering sound bothering you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
2. Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a game involving the source. As an example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at copying the noise. By joining in, 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 somewhat less sensitive.
3. Create a Scenario: One more method is to try to invent a reason about why the person creating the sound is doing it. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not at their best or are troubled. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. Although the noise doesn't change, your reaction of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.