The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers.

Lottie is looking forward to seeing her family this Christmas, but notes a key strategy she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her earplugs - particularly at Christmas dinner.

For her, this time of year can be a notably tough time as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, drinking noisily and breathing heavily make her feel profound anxiety.

"I get this sensation of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tighten and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to manage these sounds."

The individual has lived with misophonia for several years and for her that makes the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".

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

It's surprisingly common amongst adults. A study reported a significant portion of people are affected by it.

Often it's noises associated with bodily functions that lead to discomfort, as well as things like crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.

A Source of Dread

The sufferer notes: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you fear it.

"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to guarantee the event goes smoothly."

So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy season can quickly turn into a source of agony for those with the condition.

Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can provoke a powerful reaction that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.

Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity for over a decade, explains currently her plan is to listen to music to manage the meal. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to minimize triggering sounds.

She explains her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "difficult".

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

"It's like this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will activate.

"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."

A Few Techniques to Manage

For those affected then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, based on advice from experts.

1. Picture a Different Scenario: Imagination is crucial. Attempt to link the specific noise bothering you with something completely different. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you is neutral.
2. Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge involving the source. As an example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at copying the noise. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
3. Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to create a little story about the reason someone making the noise is behaving that way. For example if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not in good health or could be emotional. By doing this is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the sound remains identical, your interpretation of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.