The Holiday Season Can Be a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.

One young woman is looking forward to being with her family this Christmas, but notes one of the only ways she'll cope is by using her earplugs - particularly at the holiday meal.

For her, Christmas often feels like a especially challenging season as the sounds of family members munching, sipping loudly and breathing heavily make her feel intense distress.

"I get this wave of instant dread, my entire being will just tense up and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these sounds."

The individual has suffered from this condition for several years and for her that causes the festive season "exceptionally stressful".

Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, particularly those produced by individuals.

It is prevalent amongst adults. A study found a significant portion of people suffer from it.

Often it's sounds linked to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, as well as things like crunching, breathing, and pen clicking.

A Source of Dread

Lottie says: "I face so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you want to avoid it.

"My relatives 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 managing my symptoms to make sure the event goes smoothly."

So it's obvious why the most wonderful season can quickly turn into a living nightmare for sufferers.

Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a strong emotional response that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.

She, a young adult, who has struggled with sound sensitivity from childhood, explains currently her plan is to use headphones to get through dinner. Typically, she would frequently go in a separate space to avoid problematic noises.

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

"People assume you to be around loved ones, and I wish to, but it's draining.

"I feel as if this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will kick in.

"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."

A Few Techniques to Cope

If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, according to specialists.

1. Picture a Different Scenario: Imagination is essential. Try to associate the particular sound affecting you with an unrelated image. As an illustration, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. This technique is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
2. Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a game involving the source. For example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt joining in. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
3. Develop a Narrative: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. So if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not in good health or are troubled. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Although the noise doesn't change, your understanding of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.