The Holiday Season Can Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.

Lottie hopes for spending time with her family during the festive period, but admits a key strategy she'll cope is by using her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the main festive feast.

In her case, this time of year can be a particularly difficult period as the sounds of other people chewing, slurping and nose-blowing cause her profound anxiety.

"I experience this sensation of sudden panic, my entire being will just tighten and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these noises."

The individual has experienced misophonia for several years and for her that renders the festive season "deeply taxing".

Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, especially noises produced by individuals.

It is prevalent across the population. Experts discovered a significant portion of people are affected by it.

Typically it's noises linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, including examples such as chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.

Triggering Stress

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

"My relatives are aware, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a constant struggle of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee everyone else is happy."

So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy time of the year can quickly turn into a source of agony for sufferers.

Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a visceral feeling that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.

She, a young adult, who has struggled with sound sensitivity from childhood, states currently her plan is to use headphones to get through dinner. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to escape distressing triggers.

She notes her condition is more intense around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "difficult".

"There is pressure to be around loved ones, and I wish to, but it's draining.

"It's like this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will activate.

"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."

A Few Techniques to Manage

If you suffer then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by experts.

1. Visualise a Different Scenario: Imagination is key. Work on connecting the triggering sound bothering you with something completely different. For instance, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you is neutral.
2. Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the person. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt mimicking the sound. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you slightly more tolerant.
3. Create a Scenario: One more method is to try to create a little story about why the person creating the sound is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not at their best or are troubled. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. While the noise remains identical, your understanding of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.