Christmas Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers.

A 23-year-old hopes for spending time with her family during the festive period, but says a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - especially during Christmas dinner.

For the 23-year-old, Christmas is a especially challenging period as the sounds of people eating, drinking noisily and breathing heavily make her feel intense distress.

"I experience this feeling of instant dread, my entire being will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these triggers."

She has experienced this condition for several years and for her that renders the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".

Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, notably sounds made by other people.

The condition is widespread across the population. A study discovered nearly 20% people experience it.

Typically it's noises linked to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, along with examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.

'Anxiety Inducing'

Lottie says: "I face so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you fear it.

"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. 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 supposedly joyous time of the year can rapidly become a source of agony for those with the condition.

Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can provoke a strong emotional response that can even result in them skipping events entirely.

She, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity for over a decade, explains the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to minimize problematic noises.

She notes her misophonia 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 physically and mentally challenging.

"I feel as if this uncontrollable anger takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will kick in.

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

Three Ways to Manage

For those affected then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, according to experts.

1. Imagine an Alternative: Creative thinking is crucial. Work on connecting the triggering sound bothering you with an unrelated image. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you is neutral.
2. Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a game with the culprit. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at copying the noise. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
3. Develop a Narrative: Another technique is to try to create a little story about the reason someone creating the sound is having to make that sound. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not feeling well or maybe they're upset. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. While the sound doesn't change, your reaction of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.