Yuletide Transforms Into a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.

A 23-year-old anticipates being with her family this Christmas, but says a key strategy she'll manage to get through it is by using her noise-cancelling devices - especially during Christmas dinner.

In her case, the holidays is a notably tough time as the noises of other people chewing, sipping loudly and nose-blowing make her feel intense distress.

"I experience this feeling of sudden panic, my whole body will just tense up and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to manage these noises."

The individual has lived with this condition since she was 16 and for her that renders the holiday period "deeply taxing".

Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, notably sounds produced by those around you.

It's surprisingly common amongst adults. A study reported a significant portion of people experience it.

Often it's sounds associated with bodily functions that lead to discomfort, along with things like crunching, breathing, and pen clicking.

A Source of Dread

She explains: "I face so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you fear 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 really big battle of enduring my distress to ensure everyone else is happy."

So it's easy to understand why the supposedly joyous season can transform into a source of agony for those with the condition.

Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a powerful reaction that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.

Jenna, a university student, who has dealt with misophonia from childhood, states the approach she intends to use is to use headphones to manage the meal. Usually, she would often retreat in a separate space to avoid problematic noises.

She says her condition is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "difficult".

"There's an expectation to socialize with family, and I want to, but it's draining.

"I feel as if this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then the stress response will take over.

"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey unless you've experienced it."

Three Ways to Cope

If you suffer then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by experts.

1. Imagine Something Else: Imagination is essential. Attempt to link the triggering sound affecting you with an unrelated image. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a waterfall. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
2. Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a competition with the culprit. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at joining in. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
3. Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not feeling well or could be emotional. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the sound stays the same, your interpretation of it changes from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.