The Holiday Season Can Be a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.

A 23-year-old hopes for being with her loved ones over the holidays, but admits one of the only ways she'll endure is by using her hearing protection - especially during Christmas dinner.

In her case, this time of year is a particularly difficult season as the noises of people eating, drinking noisily and nose-blowing make her feel profound anxiety.

"There's this feeling of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just tighten and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to stop these noises."

Lottie has experienced this condition since she was 16 and for her that makes the Christmas time "deeply taxing".

Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, notably sounds coming from other people.

The condition is widespread in the UK. Researchers reported nearly 20% people suffer from it.

Often it's sounds linked to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, including things like crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.

'Anxiety Inducing'

She explains: "There are so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid it.

"My family are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure everyone else is happy."

So it's obvious why the traditionally happy period can transform into a source of agony for affected individuals.

Triggers that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can trigger a powerful reaction that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.

She, a young adult, who has struggled with misophonia since aged 10, says the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to get through dinner. On any other day, she would often retreat in a separate space to minimize distressing triggers.

She notes her misophonia is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "challenging".

"There's an expectation to be around loved ones, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.

"I feel as if this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then the stress response will kick in.

"It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."

Three Ways to Cope

For those affected then there are various strategies you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by specialists.

1. Picture Something Else: Mental imagery is key. Attempt to link the triggering sound causing distress with something completely different. So for example, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. This technique is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
2. Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a game with the person. For instance, if someone is eating noisily attempt 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. Craft a Story: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is doing it. So if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not feeling well or maybe they're upset. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Although the noise remains identical, your interpretation of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.