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

A 23-year-old hopes for seeing her family this Christmas, but notes a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by using her earplugs - particularly at Christmas dinner.

In her case, the holidays often feels like a particularly difficult time as the sounds of other people chewing, drinking noisily and breathing heavily trigger intense distress.

"I experience this feeling of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tense up and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to stop these noises."

The individual has suffered from this condition for several years and for her that causes the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".

Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, particularly those coming from other people.

It is prevalent in the UK. Experts reported nearly 20% people are affected by it.

Often it's sounds connected to eating or drinking that cause distress, including examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.

'Anxiety Inducing'

Lottie says: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid it.

"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a constant struggle of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure everyone else is happy."

So it's obvious why the traditionally happy period can rapidly become a living nightmare for those with the condition.

Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a strong emotional response that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.

The student, a young adult, who has dealt with misophonia for over a decade, states the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Typically, she would often retreat in a separate space to escape distressing triggers.

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

"People assume you to be around family, and I want to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.

"I feel as if this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will activate.

"It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."

Several Strategies to Cope

If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by experts.

1. Picture a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is essential. Attempt to link the triggering sound causing distress with something completely different. So for example, try to picture someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
2. Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a game with the culprit. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
3. Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to create a little story about why the person creating the sound is doing it. So if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not in good health or maybe they're upset. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. Although the noise stays the same, your understanding of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.