Christmas Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.

Lottie anticipates being with her loved ones this Christmas, but notes a primary method she'll cope is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the main festive feast.

For the 23-year-old, this time of year often feels like a particularly difficult time as the sounds of other people chewing, sipping loudly and sniffling make her feel intense distress.

"I experience this feeling of instant dread, my whole body will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these triggers."

She has suffered from this condition from a young age and for her that renders the holiday period "deeply taxing".

Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, notably sounds made by those around you.

It is prevalent across the population. A study reported almost one in five people suffer from it.

Frequently it's noises connected to bodily functions that lead to discomfort, including things like crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.

'Anxiety Inducing'

Lottie says: "There are so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.

"My family are aware, 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 ensure others enjoy themselves."

So it's clear why the traditionally happy season can rapidly become a living nightmare for sufferers.

Noises that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can trigger a powerful reaction that can even cause them avoiding social settings altogether.

She, a young adult, who has struggled with sound sensitivity from childhood, explains the approach she intends to use is to use headphones to manage the meal. Usually, she would often retreat in a separate space to avoid distressing triggers.

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

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

"I feel as if this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then the stress response will take over.

"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."

Several Strategies to Manage

If you suffer then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, based on advice from clinical psychologists.

1. Visualise an Alternative: Imagination is key. Try to associate the triggering sound affecting you with something completely different. As an illustration, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
2. Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a game with the culprit. For example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at joining in. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
3. Create a Scenario: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone creating the sound is behaving that way. So if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not feeling well or maybe they're upset. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. While the noise doesn't change, your interpretation of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.