The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.

One young woman hopes for being with her family this Christmas, but admits one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by using her hearing protection - particularly at Christmas dinner.

For the 23-year-old, this time of year is a particularly difficult season as the sounds of people eating, drinking noisily and breathing heavily trigger intense distress.

"There's this wave of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these noises."

Lottie has experienced this condition from a young age and for her that renders the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".

Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to particular auditory triggers, notably sounds coming from those around you.

It's surprisingly common across the population. Researchers found almost one in five people are affected by it.

Frequently it's sounds linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that cause distress, including things like chewing, breathing, and pen clicking.

A Source of Dread

The sufferer notes: "There are so many assorted problematic noises 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 enduring my distress to ensure everyone else is happy."

So it's clear why the most wonderful season can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for sufferers.

Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can cause a powerful reaction that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.

The student, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity from childhood, says currently her plan is to use headphones to manage the meal. Usually, she would often retreat in a quiet area to minimize distressing triggers.

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

"There's an expectation to socialize with family, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

"I feel as if this uncontrollable anger takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will activate.

"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey unless you've experienced it."

Several Strategies to Cope

If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, according to specialists.

1. Imagine a Different Scenario: Imagination is key. Try to associate the particular sound causing distress with something completely different. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a waterfall. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you is neutral.
2. Try a Competition: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a game with the person. For instance, if someone is eating noisily have a go at joining in. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
3. Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about the reason someone creating the sound is behaving that way. So if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not at their best or are troubled. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise stays the same, your understanding of it changes from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.