Christmas Can Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.

One young woman is looking forward to spending time with her loved ones over the holidays, but says one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by relying on her earplugs - particularly at the holiday meal.

For the 23-year-old, the holidays often feels like a particularly difficult time as the noises of people eating, sipping loudly and nose-blowing make her feel extremely uncomfortable.

"I get this wave of instant dread, my whole body will just tense up and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these triggers."

She has suffered from sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that renders the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".

Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, especially noises produced by individuals.

It's surprisingly common in the UK. A study found a significant portion of people are affected by it.

Often it's sounds associated with eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, as well as examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.

'Anxiety Inducing'

The sufferer notes: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you dread it.

"My relatives are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to make sure everyone else is happy."

So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous time of the year can rapidly become a source of agony for those with the condition.

Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a strong emotional response that can even result in them skipping events entirely.

She, a university student, who has experienced misophonia since aged 10, states her strategy is to use headphones to manage the meal. On any other day, she would often retreat in a quiet area to avoid distressing triggers.

She explains her misophonia is worse around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "difficult".

"There's an expectation to be around loved ones, and I want to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.

"I feel as if this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then the stress response will activate.

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

Several Strategies to Manage

For those affected then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, according to experts.

1. Imagine Something Else: Imagination is key. Attempt to link the particular sound causing distress with something completely different. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a waterfall. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
2. Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a game involving the source. For instance, if someone is eating noisily have a go at joining in. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
3. Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone creating the sound is behaving that way. For example 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. Even though the noise stays the same, your reaction of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.