Yuletide Can Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.

One young woman anticipates being with her relatives this Christmas, but admits a key strategy she'll cope is by using her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the main festive feast.

For her, this time of year can be a especially challenging time as the sounds of people eating, slurping and nose-blowing trigger profound anxiety.

"There's this wave of sudden panic, my entire being will just tense up and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these triggers."

The individual has lived with sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that causes the holiday period "deeply taxing".

Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, particularly those produced by individuals.

It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Researchers discovered a significant portion of people experience it.

Typically it's sounds connected to mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, along with examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.

'Anxiety Inducing'

The sufferer notes: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays 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 make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to guarantee everyone else is happy."

So it's obvious why the most wonderful period can quickly turn into a source of agony for sufferers.

Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a strong emotional response that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.

The student, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced sound sensitivity for over a decade, states the approach she intends to use is to use headphones to get through dinner. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to escape distressing triggers.

She says her condition is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "difficult".

"There's an expectation to spend time with family, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

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

"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."

Several Strategies to Handle It

If you suffer then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, according to specialists.

1. Picture a Different Scenario: Imagination is essential. Work on connecting the specific noise affecting you with something completely different. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
2. Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a game with the culprit. For example, if someone is eating noisily try mimicking the sound. 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 a little less affected.
3. Create a Scenario: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is doing it. Imagine if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not at their best or are troubled. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise stays the same, your understanding of it changes from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.