Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.

A 23-year-old hopes for seeing her loved ones this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she'll endure is by relying on her hearing protection - particularly at the holiday meal.

For the 23-year-old, Christmas can be a particularly difficult time as the sounds of other people chewing, sipping loudly and sniffling make her feel extremely uncomfortable.

"I get this feeling of sudden panic, my whole body will just freeze and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to manage these triggers."

The individual has lived with sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that causes the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".

Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, particularly those produced by those around you.

The condition is widespread amongst adults. Researchers found almost one in five people suffer from it.

Typically it's sounds associated with bodily functions that lead to discomfort, along with things like chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.

'Anxiety Inducing'

The sufferer notes: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.

"My family are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee everyone else is happy."

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

Triggers that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a strong emotional response that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.

The student, a university student, who has experienced sound sensitivity for over a decade, says currently her plan is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to avoid distressing triggers.

She says her misophonia is worse around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "difficult".

"There is pressure to be around family, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.

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

"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."

A Few Techniques to Manage

For those affected then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, according to clinical psychologists.

1. Visualise a Different Scenario: Imagination is essential. Work on connecting the triggering sound causing distress with something completely different. As an illustration, try to picture someone's slurping is just a waterfall. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
2. Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the culprit. As an example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at copying the noise. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
3. Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is doing it. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not feeling well or could be emotional. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Although the noise doesn't change, your understanding of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.