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

One young woman is looking forward to being with her loved ones over the holidays, but admits a primary method she'll cope is by relying on her earplugs - notably for Christmas dinner.

For the 23-year-old, this time of year is a especially challenging period as the noises of people eating, slurping and breathing heavily trigger profound anxiety.

"I experience this wave of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tense up and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to manage these sounds."

She has experienced sound sensitivity for several years and for her that causes the Christmas time "deeply taxing".

Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, notably sounds produced by those around you.

It is prevalent across the population. A study reported almost one in five people are affected by it.

Often it's noises associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, along with things like chewing, breathing, and pen clicking.

'Anxiety Inducing'

Lottie says: "There are so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.

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

So it's easy to understand why the supposedly joyous time of the year can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.

Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a visceral feeling that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.

She, a university student, who has struggled with misophonia for over a decade, says the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. Typically, she would frequently go in a separate space to minimize triggering sounds.

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

"People assume you to socialize with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.

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

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

Several Strategies to Manage

For those affected then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by experts.

1. Visualise Something Else: Mental imagery is essential. Work on connecting the particular sound affecting you with something completely different. So for example, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking 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: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a competition with the person. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly try joining in. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
3. Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not feeling well or are troubled. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the noise remains identical, your interpretation of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.