The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.

Lottie hopes for being with her relatives this Christmas, but admits one of the only ways she'll cope is by wearing her earplugs - especially during the main festive feast.

For her, Christmas is a especially challenging time as the sounds of people eating, slurping and sniffling cause her profound anxiety.

"I get this sensation of sudden panic, my every muscle will just freeze and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to stop these noises."

The individual has suffered from this condition for several years and for her that renders the festive season "deeply taxing".

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

It's surprisingly common in the UK. Researchers discovered nearly 20% people are affected by it.

Often it's noises linked to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, along with things like crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.

A Source of Dread

The sufferer notes: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you fear it.

"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to make sure the event goes smoothly."

So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous time of the year can quickly turn into a source of agony for sufferers.

Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a strong emotional response that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.

She, a young adult, who has dealt with misophonia since aged 10, explains her strategy is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. Typically, she would frequently go in a separate space to avoid triggering sounds.

She explains her misophonia is worse around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".

"There's an expectation to socialize with loved ones, and I want to, but it's draining.

"It's like this uncontrollable anger comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then the stress response will kick in.

"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey unless you've experienced it."

Several Strategies to Cope

For those affected then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by experts.

1. Imagine a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is key. Work on connecting the particular sound affecting you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to picture someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
2. Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge involving the source. For instance, if someone is eating noisily attempt joining in. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
3. Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about the reason someone making the noise is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not feeling well or could be emotional. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. Even though the sound stays the same, your interpretation of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.