Christmas Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.

Lottie hopes for seeing her loved ones over the holidays, but says a key strategy she'll endure is by wearing her earplugs - especially during the main festive feast.

For her, Christmas often feels like a especially challenging time as the noises of people eating, drinking noisily and nose-blowing make her feel intense distress.

"There's this wave of instant dread, my entire being will just tense up and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to manage these triggers."

The individual has lived with misophonia since she was 16 and for her that renders the festive season "exceptionally stressful".

Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, particularly those produced by individuals.

It is prevalent amongst adults. Researchers discovered nearly 20% people experience it.

Typically it's noises connected to mouth, throat or facial movements that lead to discomfort, along with things like crunching, breathing, and foot tapping.

'Anxiety Inducing'

Lottie says: "You encounter so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid it.

"My family are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure others enjoy themselves."

So it's easy to understand why the most wonderful period can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.

Noises that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a powerful reaction that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.

Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with misophonia from childhood, says the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to manage the meal. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to escape triggering sounds.

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

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

"The sensation is this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will take over.

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

A Few Techniques to Handle It

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

1. Picture a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is crucial. Work on connecting the triggering sound bothering you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to envision someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
2. Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a competition involving the source. For example, if someone is eating noisily try mimicking the sound. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
3. Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about the reason someone creating the sound is behaving that way. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not in good health or are troubled. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. While the noise remains identical, your interpretation of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.