Christmas Can Be a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.

A 23-year-old anticipates seeing her relatives during the festive period, but says one of the only ways she'll endure is by using her hearing protection - especially during the main festive feast.

For the 23-year-old, this time of year often feels like a notably tough period as the noises of other people chewing, slurping and breathing heavily make her feel extremely uncomfortable.

"There's this sensation of sudden panic, my entire being will just tighten and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these sounds."

She has experienced misophonia since she was 16 and for her that renders the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".

Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, notably sounds coming from those around you.

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

Frequently it's sounds associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that lead to discomfort, as well as things like chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.

'Anxiety Inducing'

Lottie says: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.

"My relatives are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to ensure others enjoy themselves."

So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous period can quickly turn into a living nightmare for affected individuals.

Noises that may be considered normal, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a visceral feeling that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.

She, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with misophonia since aged 10, states currently her plan is to listen to music to manage the meal. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to avoid triggering sounds.

She notes her misophonia is more intense around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "challenging".

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

"I feel as if this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then the stress response will take over.

"It can come across as if I'm being unreasonable and overreacting, but it's hard to explain if you haven't felt it."

A Few Techniques to Handle It

If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by experts.

1. Imagine a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is key. Work on connecting the specific noise bothering you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
2. Use Humor: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a game involving the source. For example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at copying the noise. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an engaged person. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
3. Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone creating the sound is behaving that way. So if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not at their best or could be emotional. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Although the sound stays the same, your reaction of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.