Yuletide Transforms Into a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.

One young woman anticipates seeing her family this Christmas, but says a primary method she'll endure is by using her earplugs - especially during the main festive feast.

For her, this time of year can be a particularly difficult period as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, drinking noisily and breathing heavily make her feel extremely uncomfortable.

"I get this sensation of instant dread, my whole body will just freeze and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to stop these sounds."

Lottie has lived with this condition from a young age and for her that renders the Christmas time "deeply taxing".

Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, notably sounds coming from individuals.

It's surprisingly common amongst adults. A study found nearly 20% people suffer from it.

Typically it's noises associated with bodily functions that trigger a reaction, along with examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.

A Source of Dread

Lottie says: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing 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 really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee others enjoy themselves."

So it's clear why the supposedly joyous period can rapidly become a source of agony for affected individuals.

Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can cause a visceral feeling that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.

She, a young adult, who has experienced misophonia since aged 10, states currently her plan is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Typically, she would frequently go in a quiet area to escape problematic noises.

She says her misophonia is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "challenging".

"People assume you to socialize with family, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

"The sensation is this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then panic will kick in.

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

Several Strategies to Manage

For those affected then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by clinical psychologists.

1. Visualise a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is key. Try to associate the specific noise bothering you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you is neutral.
2. Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a game involving the source. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly attempt copying the noise. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
3. Develop a Narrative: Another technique is to try to invent a reason about why the person making the noise is behaving that way. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not feeling well or are troubled. By doing this is re-framing the context of the sound. Even though the noise stays the same, your interpretation of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.