Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Living Hell for Misophonia Sufferers.

A 23-year-old hopes for being with her relatives over the holidays, but notes a key strategy she'll cope is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the main festive feast.

For her, Christmas is a notably tough time as the sounds of family members munching, drinking noisily and sniffling cause her profound anxiety.

"I get this sensation of instant dread, my entire being will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these noises."

The individual has suffered from sound sensitivity for several years and for her that causes the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".

Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, particularly those coming from those around you.

It's surprisingly common in the UK. Experts reported a significant portion of people are affected by it.

Frequently it's sounds connected to mouth, throat or facial movements that lead to discomfort, as well as things like crunching, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.

Triggering Stress

She explains: "You encounter so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you fear it.

"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of enduring my distress to make sure the event goes smoothly."

So it's clear why the most wonderful period can rapidly become a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.

Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a visceral feeling that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.

Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with misophonia for over a decade, states her strategy is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to minimize distressing triggers.

She says her misophonia is more intense around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "difficult".

"People assume you to spend time with loved ones, and I want to, but it's draining.

"I feel as if this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will activate.

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

A Few Techniques to Cope

If you suffer then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, based on advice from experts.

1. Imagine a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is key. Try to associate the triggering sound causing distress with an unrelated image. As an illustration, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a waterfall. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
2. Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the person. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt copying the noise. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
3. Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is behaving that way. For example if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not feeling well or could be emotional. By doing this is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise doesn't change, your interpretation of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.