Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.

One young woman anticipates being with her loved ones over the holidays, but notes a key strategy she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her earplugs - notably for the main festive feast.

For the 23-year-old, this time of year is a notably tough time as the noises of people eating, slurping and nose-blowing cause her intense distress.

"There's this feeling of instant dread, my every muscle will just tighten and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these sounds."

She has lived with misophonia since she was 16 and for her that renders the Christmas time "deeply taxing".

Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to particular auditory triggers, notably sounds produced by other people.

It's surprisingly common in the UK. Researchers found nearly 20% people are affected by it.

Often it's noises associated with eating or drinking that cause distress, along with examples such as crunching, breathing, and pen clicking.

A Source of Dread

Lottie says: "There are so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you fear it.

"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to ensure everyone else is happy."

So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy time of the year can transform into a living nightmare for those with the condition.

Noises that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a powerful reaction that can even cause them avoiding social settings altogether.

Jenna, a young adult, who has struggled with misophonia since aged 10, explains the approach she intends to use is to use headphones to manage the meal. Typically, she would frequently go in a quiet area to avoid distressing triggers.

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

"There is pressure to be around family, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.

"It's like this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will kick in.

"To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."

Several Strategies to Cope

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

1. Picture a Different Scenario: Imagination is key. Work on connecting the specific noise affecting you with something completely different. So for example, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you is neutral.
2. Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a game with the person. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at copying the noise. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help shift your attention and make you slightly more tolerant.
3. Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about the reason someone creating the sound is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not feeling well or could be emotional. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the sound doesn't change, your understanding of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.