The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.

A 23-year-old is looking forward to being with her family during the festive period, but admits a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by using her hearing protection - notably for the main festive feast.

For the 23-year-old, the holidays often feels like a especially challenging season as the auditory triggers of people eating, sipping loudly and sniffling make her feel profound anxiety.

"I experience this feeling of instant dread, my entire being will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to stop these triggers."

Lottie has experienced sound sensitivity from a young age and for her that makes the festive season "deeply taxing".

Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, notably sounds coming from individuals.

It's surprisingly common across the population. Researchers reported nearly 20% people experience it.

Typically it's noises associated with eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, including things like chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.

Triggering Stress

She explains: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.

"My family are understanding, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure everyone else is happy."

So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy season can transform into a source of agony for affected individuals.

Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a powerful reaction that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.

She, a young adult, who has dealt with sound sensitivity since aged 10, explains her strategy is to use headphones to manage the meal. Usually, she would often retreat in a separate space to avoid problematic noises.

She says her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "difficult".

"There's an expectation to socialize with family, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

"It's like this intense irritation washes over me, 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 overreacting, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."

Several Strategies to Cope

If you suffer then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by experts.

1. Visualise Something Else: Imagination is crucial. Try to associate the triggering sound causing distress with a neutral concept. So for example, try to picture someone's slurping is just a waterfall. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you is neutral.
2. Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a challenge involving the source. For example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt joining in. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the game aspect 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 having to make that sound. So if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not at their best or could be emotional. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. While the noise remains identical, your reaction of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.