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

A 23-year-old hopes for being with her family during the festive period, but says a primary method she'll endure is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at the holiday meal.

For the 23-year-old, Christmas often feels like a especially challenging period as the sounds of other people chewing, slurping and sniffling cause her extremely uncomfortable.

"I get this feeling of sudden panic, my whole body will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to manage these sounds."

She has suffered from this condition since she was 16 and for her that makes the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".

Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, particularly those produced by other people.

The condition is widespread across the population. A study reported nearly 20% people suffer from it.

Typically it's noises connected to eating or drinking that cause distress, including things like crunching, breathing, and foot tapping.

A Source of Dread

Lottie says: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you dread it.

"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure everyone else is happy."

So it's easy to understand why the most wonderful period can rapidly become a source of agony for affected individuals.

Noises that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a powerful reaction that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.

The student, a university student, who has experienced sound sensitivity since aged 10, explains her strategy is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Usually, she would frequently go in a different room to minimize problematic noises.

She says her condition is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "difficult".

"There's an expectation to spend time with family, and I wish to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

"I feel as if this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then the stress response will take over.

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

A Few Techniques to Cope

If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, based on advice from experts.

1. Visualise an Alternative: Imagination is essential. Attempt to link the specific noise bothering you with something completely different. As an illustration, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
2. Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the culprit. As an example, if someone is eating noisily attempt copying the noise. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
3. Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to invent a reason about why the person creating the sound is doing it. So if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not feeling well or are troubled. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the noise remains identical, your understanding of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.