The Holiday Season Can Be a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.

A 23-year-old is looking forward to spending time with her loved ones this Christmas, but admits one of the only ways she'll cope is by relying on her hearing protection - especially during Christmas dinner.

For her, Christmas can be a especially challenging period as the sounds of family members munching, slurping and nose-blowing make her feel intense distress.

"I experience this sensation of instant dread, my whole body will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in danger, and I need to manage these triggers."

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

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

The condition is widespread amongst adults. Researchers reported almost one in five people suffer from it.

Frequently it's noises linked to eating or drinking that cause distress, including things like chewing, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.

'Anxiety Inducing'

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

"My family are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure the event goes smoothly."

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

Noises that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a visceral feeling that can even result in them skipping events entirely.

Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced sound sensitivity from childhood, states her strategy is to listen to music to cope. Typically, she would frequently go in a different room to escape problematic noises.

She explains her condition is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "challenging".

"There is pressure to spend time with family, and I want to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.

"It's like this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will take over.

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

A Few Techniques to Manage

For those affected then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by specialists.

1. Visualise a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is essential. Work on connecting the triggering sound causing distress with an unrelated image. For instance, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. This technique is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
2. Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge involving the source. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at joining in. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
3. Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to create a little story about the reason someone making the noise is having to make that sound. So if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not at their best or are troubled. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. Although the noise remains identical, your interpretation of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.