The Holiday Season Can Be a Living Hell for Misophonia Sufferers.

Lottie is looking forward to seeing her relatives over the holidays, but says a primary method she'll cope is by using her noise-cancelling devices - especially during Christmas dinner.

For the 23-year-old, the holidays can be a notably tough period as the sounds of family members munching, sipping loudly and nose-blowing trigger profound anxiety.

"I get this wave of instant dread, my every muscle will just tense up and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to manage these noises."

Lottie has suffered from this condition for several years and for her that renders the Christmas time "deeply taxing".

Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, notably sounds made by individuals.

It is prevalent in the UK. Researchers found almost one in five people experience it.

Typically it's noises connected to bodily functions that cause distress, including things like chewing, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.

A Source of Dread

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

"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure others enjoy themselves."

So it's obvious why the traditionally happy period can transform into a stressful ordeal for affected individuals.

Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a visceral feeling that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.

Jenna, a young adult, who has struggled with misophonia from childhood, explains the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. On any other day, she would often retreat in a separate space to minimize triggering sounds.

She explains her misophonia is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "challenging".

"There's an expectation to be around family, and I wish to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

"It's like this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then the stress response will kick in.

"It may seem as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."

Three Ways to Handle It

If you suffer then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, based on advice from experts.

1. Imagine a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is essential. Try to associate the specific noise bothering you with something completely different. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
2. Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the person. For example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at joining in. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
3. Craft a Story: One more method is to try to create a little story about why the person creating the sound is behaving that way. So if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not in good health or could be emotional. By doing this is re-framing the context of the sound. Even though the noise stays the same, your understanding of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.