Yuletide Transforms Into a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.

Lottie hopes for spending time with her relatives over the holidays, but admits a key strategy she'll cope is by relying on her earplugs - particularly at the holiday meal.

For her, Christmas can be a especially challenging period as the noises of family members munching, sipping loudly and breathing heavily make her feel intense distress.

"I get this sensation of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to manage these noises."

The individual has experienced misophonia since she was 16 and for her that makes the festive season "exceptionally stressful".

Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to particular auditory triggers, especially noises made by other people.

It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Experts discovered almost one in five people suffer from it.

Frequently it's sounds linked to bodily functions that cause distress, as well as things like crunching, breathing, and foot tapping.

'Anxiety Inducing'

Lottie says: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid it.

"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to guarantee everyone else is happy."

So it's obvious why the traditionally happy period can quickly turn into a living nightmare for those with the condition.

Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a powerful reaction that can even result in them skipping events entirely.

She, a young adult, who has experienced misophonia from childhood, explains her strategy is to listen to music to get through dinner. On any other day, she would frequently go in a different room to avoid triggering sounds.

She explains her sensitivity is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "difficult".

"There's an expectation to spend time with family, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.

"I feel as if this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then panic will activate.

"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."

A Few Techniques to Manage

For those affected then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by specialists.

1. Picture Something Else: Imagination is crucial. Try to associate the specific noise bothering you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to envision someone's slurping is just a waterfall. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
2. Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a challenge involving the source. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at joining in. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
3. Create a Scenario: One more method is to try to create a little story about why the person creating the sound is behaving that way. For example if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not at their best or are troubled. By doing this is changing the meaning of the sound. While the sound doesn't change, your reaction of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.