Christmas Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers.

One young woman hopes for seeing her loved ones over the holidays, but notes a primary method she'll endure is by wearing her hearing protection - especially during the main festive feast.

For her, Christmas can be a particularly difficult period as the sounds of other people chewing, slurping and nose-blowing cause her intense distress.

"I get this sensation of sudden panic, my every muscle will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to manage these noises."

The individual has experienced this condition for several years and for her that makes the holiday period "deeply taxing".

Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to particular auditory triggers, notably sounds produced by those around you.

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

Frequently it's noises associated with bodily functions that lead to discomfort, including examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.

'Anxiety Inducing'

She explains: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you want to avoid 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 internal conflict of enduring my distress to guarantee everyone else is happy."

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

Triggers that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a powerful reaction that can even cause them skipping events entirely.

The student, a young adult, who has dealt with misophonia for over a decade, states her strategy is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Typically, she would frequently go in a quiet area to escape triggering sounds.

She says her condition is more intense around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "challenging".

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

"The sensation is this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then panic will kick in.

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

Three Ways to Cope

For those affected then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by experts.

1. Visualise a Different Scenario: Imagination is crucial. Try to associate the particular sound affecting you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a waterfall. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
2. Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the culprit. As an example, if someone is eating noisily try mimicking the sound. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
3. Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is having to make that sound. For example if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not feeling well or maybe they're upset. By doing this is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the sound remains identical, your interpretation of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.