Christmas Often Proves to Be a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.

A 23-year-old is looking forward to seeing her loved ones over the holidays, but admits one of the only ways she'll endure is by relying on her earplugs - especially during Christmas dinner.

In her case, this time of year often feels like a especially challenging time as the sounds of family members munching, drinking noisily and nose-blowing trigger intense distress.

"I experience this sensation of instant dread, my entire being will just freeze and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these noises."

She has suffered from this condition for several years and for her that renders the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".

Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, especially noises produced by those around you.

The condition is widespread in the UK. A study reported almost one in five people are affected by it.

Frequently it's sounds associated with bodily functions that lead to discomfort, along with things like chewing, breathing, and pen clicking.

A Source of Dread

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

"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to ensure everyone else is happy."

So it's easy to understand why the supposedly joyous time of the year can rapidly become a source of agony for affected individuals.

Noises that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a powerful reaction that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.

She, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with misophonia from childhood, says currently her plan is to listen to music to get through dinner. Usually, she would frequently go in a quiet area to minimize problematic noises.

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

"There's an expectation to be around loved ones, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

"I feel as if this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then panic will take over.

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

Several Strategies to Cope

For those affected then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, according to experts.

1. Imagine Something Else: Imagination is essential. Try to associate the specific noise bothering you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. This technique is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
2. Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the culprit. As an example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at copying the noise. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
3. Develop a Narrative: Another technique is to try to create a little story about why the person creating the sound is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not at their best or could be emotional. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. While the sound remains identical, your interpretation of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.