Christmas Can Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.

A 23-year-old is looking forward to spending time with her relatives over the holidays, but says a primary method she'll cope is by using her hearing protection - particularly at Christmas dinner.

For the 23-year-old, this time of year is a particularly difficult season as the noises of other people chewing, sipping loudly and breathing heavily make her feel extremely uncomfortable.

"I experience this feeling of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to manage these sounds."

The individual has lived with sound sensitivity for several years and for her that renders the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".

Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, particularly those made by other people.

It's surprisingly common in the UK. Experts found nearly 20% people suffer from it.

Typically it's sounds associated with eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, along with examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.

A Source of Dread

She explains: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you dread it.

"My family are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to ensure everyone else is happy."

So it's easy to understand why the supposedly joyous time of the year can rapidly become a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.

Noises that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a visceral feeling that can even cause them avoiding social settings altogether.

The student, a young adult, who has struggled with misophonia for over a decade, states currently her plan is to listen to music to manage the meal. Typically, she would often retreat in a different room to minimize problematic noises.

She explains her condition is worse around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "challenging".

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

"I feel as if this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then panic will kick in.

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

Several Strategies to Cope

For those affected then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by experts.

1. Imagine an Alternative: Mental imagery is essential. Try to associate the particular sound affecting you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to envision someone's slurping is just a waterfall. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you is neutral.
2. Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a game involving the source. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt joining in. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
3. Create a Scenario: One more method is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone creating the sound is behaving that way. So if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not in good health or could be emotional. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. While the sound doesn't change, your understanding of it changes from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.