Christmas Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.

Lottie anticipates being with her family over the holidays, but says a key strategy she'll manage to get through it is by using her hearing protection - especially during the holiday meal.

For her, this time of year often feels like a especially challenging season as the sounds of family members munching, slurping and breathing heavily cause her profound anxiety.

"I get this sensation of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these sounds."

She has lived with sound sensitivity from a young age and for her that renders the festive season "exceptionally stressful".

Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to particular auditory triggers, especially noises coming from individuals.

It's surprisingly common in the UK. Researchers found a significant portion of people suffer from it.

Often it's noises linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, as well as examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.

'Anxiety Inducing'

The sufferer notes: "There are so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.

"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure the event goes smoothly."

So it's obvious why the most wonderful season can rapidly become a stressful ordeal for affected individuals.

Noises that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can trigger a visceral feeling that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.

The student, a young adult, who has struggled with misophonia for over a decade, states her strategy is to use headphones to manage the meal. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to minimize distressing triggers.

She explains her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "difficult".

"People assume you to spend time with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's draining.

"The sensation is this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and immediately start crying and then panic will activate.

"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."

Several Strategies to Cope

If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, based on advice from specialists.

1. Visualise Something Else: Creative thinking is key. Try to associate the triggering sound bothering you with an unrelated image. So for example, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
2. Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge involving the source. For example, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
3. Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is doing it. So if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not feeling well or maybe they're upset. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise stays the same, your reaction of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.