The Holiday Season Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.

A 23-year-old is looking forward to spending time with her family over the holidays, but notes one of the only ways she'll endure is by wearing her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the holiday meal.

In her case, this time of year can be a notably tough time as the sounds of other people chewing, slurping and nose-blowing make her feel profound anxiety.

"I experience this wave of instant dread, my whole body will just tighten and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to stop these noises."

The individual has suffered from misophonia since she was 16 and for her that makes the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".

Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, especially noises produced by those around you.

The condition is widespread amongst adults. A study reported a significant portion of people experience it.

Frequently it's noises connected to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, as well as things like crunching, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.

Triggering Stress

The sufferer notes: "There are so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid it.

"Those close to me are understanding, 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 ensure others enjoy themselves."

So it's easy to understand why the most wonderful period can rapidly become a living nightmare for affected individuals.

Noises that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, 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.

The student, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity since aged 10, states the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to cope. Typically, she would often retreat in a quiet area to minimize triggering sounds.

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

"People assume you to be around loved ones, and I wish to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

"The sensation is this sudden rage comes 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 difficult and melodramatic, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."

Several Strategies to Cope

For those affected then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, according to clinical psychologists.

1. Visualise an Alternative: Imagination is key. Try to associate the triggering sound affecting you with an unrelated image. So for example, try to picture someone's slurping is just a waterfall. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
2. Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the culprit. As an example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at joining in. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
3. Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is doing it. Imagine if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not in good health or maybe they're upset. By doing this is re-framing the context of the sound. While the noise remains identical, your interpretation of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.