The Holiday Season Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.

A 23-year-old anticipates seeing her loved ones this Christmas, but notes a key strategy she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her earplugs - notably for the main festive feast.

For her, this time of year often feels like a notably tough period as the sounds of other people chewing, sipping loudly and sniffling cause her extremely uncomfortable.

"There's this wave of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these sounds."

The individual has experienced this condition since she was 16 and for her that causes the festive season "deeply taxing".

Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, particularly those made by individuals.

The condition is widespread in the UK. Experts reported almost one in five people experience it.

Frequently it's sounds linked to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, as well as things like chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.

A Source of Dread

Lottie says: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you dread it.

"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to guarantee the event goes smoothly."

So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous time of the year can quickly turn into a source of agony for affected individuals.

Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can trigger a powerful reaction that can even cause them skipping events entirely.

She, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity from childhood, states her strategy is to use headphones to get through dinner. On any other day, she would frequently go in a separate space to avoid triggering sounds.

She notes her condition is worse around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "hard".

"People assume you to socialize with family, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

"It's like this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will kick in.

"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."

Three Ways to Manage

If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by experts.

1. Imagine an Alternative: Imagination is crucial. Attempt to link the particular sound bothering you with an unrelated image. For instance, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you is neutral.
2. Try a Competition: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the culprit. As an example, if someone is eating noisily try mimicking the sound. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
3. Create a Scenario: One more method is to try to invent a reason about why the person creating the sound is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not feeling well or are troubled. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. While the noise remains identical, your understanding of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.