Christmas Transforms Into a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.

Lottie anticipates seeing her family this Christmas, but says a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her hearing protection - especially during the holiday meal.

For the 23-year-old, this time of year often feels like a especially challenging period as the sounds of family members munching, drinking noisily and sniffling cause her intense distress.

"I get this sensation of sudden panic, my entire being will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these noises."

Lottie has lived with misophonia since she was 16 and for her that causes the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".

Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, especially noises produced by individuals.

The condition is widespread in the UK. A study discovered almost one in five people are affected by it.

Often it's sounds associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, along with examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.

'Anxiety Inducing'

She explains: "I face so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you dread it.

"My family are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure everyone else is happy."

So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy period can transform into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.

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 avoiding social settings altogether.

The student, a university student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity for over a decade, states her strategy is to use headphones to get through dinner. Typically, she would frequently go in a quiet area to escape problematic noises.

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

"There is pressure to socialize with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

"I feel as if this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will take over.

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

Three Ways to Manage

If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, based on advice from clinical psychologists.

1. Picture Something Else: Creative thinking is key. Attempt to link the specific noise affecting you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
2. Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a game with the culprit. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly try mimicking the sound. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
3. Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone creating the sound is having to make that sound. For example if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not feeling well or maybe they're upset. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. While the sound stays the same, your understanding of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.