Yuletide Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.

One young woman anticipates seeing her loved ones this Christmas, but says a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her hearing protection - notably for the main festive feast.

In her case, the holidays is a notably tough period as the sounds of other people chewing, slurping and sniffling trigger intense distress.

"There's this feeling of sudden panic, my whole body will just freeze and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these sounds."

The individual has suffered from this condition since she was 16 and for her that makes the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".

Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, notably sounds produced by other people.

The condition is widespread in the UK. A study found almost one in five people are affected by it.

Typically it's sounds linked to eating or drinking that cause distress, including things like crunching, breathing, and pen clicking.

A Source of Dread

She explains: "I face so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you dread it.

"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to guarantee everyone else is happy."

So it's clear why the most wonderful season can transform into a source of agony for affected individuals.

Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a visceral feeling that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.

Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with misophonia from childhood, explains currently her plan is to put her earphones in to cope. Usually, she would frequently go in a different room to escape triggering sounds.

She notes her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "challenging".

"People assume you to socialize with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's draining.

"I feel as if this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then the stress response will activate.

"To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and overreacting, but it's difficult to convey if you haven't felt it."

A Few Techniques to Cope

For those affected then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, based on advice from experts.

1. Picture a Different Scenario: Imagination is key. Try to associate the triggering sound affecting you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a waterfall. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you is neutral.
2. Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a competition with the culprit. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at copying the noise. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
3. Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone making the noise is behaving that way. So if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not feeling well or could be emotional. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. Although the sound stays the same, your understanding of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.