Christmas Transforms Into a Living Hell for Misophonia Sufferers.

Lottie hopes for seeing her loved ones this Christmas, but admits a key strategy she'll manage to get through it is by using her earplugs - particularly at the main festive feast.

For her, this time of year often feels like a especially challenging period as the sounds of people eating, slurping and breathing heavily make her feel extremely uncomfortable.

"I experience this wave of instant dread, my whole body will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these sounds."

She has lived with misophonia for several years and for her that causes the festive season "deeply taxing".

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

The condition is widespread amongst adults. Researchers found nearly 20% people suffer from it.

Typically it's noises connected to bodily functions that lead to discomfort, as well as examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.

A Source of Dread

The sufferer notes: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.

"My family are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to guarantee the event goes smoothly."

So it's obvious why the most wonderful period can rapidly become a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.

Noises that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can cause a powerful reaction that can even result in them skipping events entirely.

The student, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced misophonia for over a decade, says her strategy is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. Typically, she would often retreat in a different room to minimize problematic noises.

She explains her condition is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "difficult".

"There's an expectation to be around loved ones, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

"It's like this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will kick in.

"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."

A Few Techniques to Manage

If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, based on advice from experts.

1. Visualise an Alternative: Imagination is essential. Work on connecting the specific noise causing distress with an unrelated image. For instance, try to envision someone's slurping is just a waterfall. By doing this is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
2. Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a game with the culprit. For example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at mimicking the sound. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
3. Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to invent a reason about why the person making the noise is behaving that way. So if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not in good health or maybe they're upset. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. Even though the sound doesn't change, your interpretation of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.