Christmas Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers.

Lottie anticipates being with her family over the holidays, but notes a key strategy she'll endure is by wearing her earplugs - especially during Christmas dinner.

For her, the holidays often feels like a particularly difficult season as the auditory triggers of family members munching, slurping and sniffling cause her profound anxiety.

"There's this wave of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tense up and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to manage these triggers."

Lottie has lived with misophonia since she was 16 and for her that renders the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".

Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to particular auditory triggers, particularly those made by other people.

It is prevalent across the population. Experts found almost one in five people are affected by it.

Frequently it's noises connected to mouth, throat or facial movements that lead to discomfort, along with examples such as chewing, breathing, and pen clicking.

'Anxiety Inducing'

She explains: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid it.

"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to make sure others enjoy themselves."

So it's clear why the supposedly joyous period can rapidly become a living nightmare for those with the condition.

Triggers that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can trigger a strong emotional response that can even cause them avoiding social settings altogether.

The student, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced misophonia for over a decade, says the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Usually, she would frequently go in a different room to avoid triggering sounds.

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

"There is pressure to be around loved ones, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

"It's like this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then the stress response will kick in.

"It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."

Several Strategies to Handle It

If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by experts.

1. Visualise a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is key. Attempt to link the particular sound causing distress with an unrelated image. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
2. Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the person. For example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at joining in. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
3. Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is doing it. Imagine if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not in good health or are troubled. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the sound remains identical, your understanding of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.