Christmas Can Be a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.

A 23-year-old anticipates seeing her relatives this Christmas, but admits a primary method she'll endure is by wearing her earplugs - particularly at Christmas dinner.

For her, the holidays is a notably tough time as the noises of family members munching, slurping and nose-blowing cause her profound anxiety.

"I experience this wave of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just tense up and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these triggers."

The individual has experienced misophonia since she was 16 and for her that renders the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".

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

It's surprisingly common amongst adults. A study reported a significant portion of people are affected by it.

Frequently it's sounds linked to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, including things like chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.

Triggering Stress

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

"My relatives are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure everyone else is happy."

So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy period can transform into a source of agony for those with the condition.

Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a strong emotional response that can even result in them skipping events entirely.

She, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity since aged 10, explains her strategy is to use headphones to cope. On any other day, she would frequently go in a different room to minimize triggering sounds.

She notes her condition is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "challenging".

"There is pressure to be around loved ones, and I want to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.

"The sensation is this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and burst into tears and then panic will activate.

"To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and overreacting, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."

Three Ways to Manage

If you suffer then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, based on advice from specialists.

1. Picture a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is crucial. Try to associate the triggering sound affecting you with something completely different. So for example, try to envision someone's slurping is just a waterfall. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
2. Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a challenge involving the source. For instance, if someone is eating noisily try mimicking the sound. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
3. Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about the reason someone creating the sound is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not in good health or could be emotional. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the noise remains identical, your interpretation of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral about it.