Christmas Can Be a Living Hell for Misophonia Sufferers.

One young woman anticipates being with her loved ones this Christmas, but notes one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her hearing protection - particularly at the holiday meal.

In her case, the holidays often feels like a particularly difficult period as the noises of other people chewing, slurping and sniffling trigger profound anxiety.

"I get this feeling of instant dread, my whole body will just tighten and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to manage these triggers."

The individual has lived with misophonia for several years and for her that renders the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".

Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, especially noises produced by individuals.

It is prevalent across the population. A study discovered nearly 20% people experience it.

Often it's sounds linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that lead to discomfort, as well as examples such as crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.

Triggering Stress

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

"My relatives are understanding, but I'm very aware that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to ensure everyone else is happy."

So it's clear why the supposedly joyous period can transform into a source of agony for affected individuals.

Triggers that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can trigger a powerful reaction that can even result in them withdrawing from gatherings.

Jenna, a young adult, who has dealt with sound sensitivity for over a decade, states currently her plan 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 condition is more pronounced around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "difficult".

"There's an expectation to be around family, and I wish to, but it's draining.

"It's like this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and burst into tears and then the stress response will kick in.

"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."

Three Ways to Cope

If you suffer then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by experts.

1. Visualise Something Else: Creative thinking is crucial. Attempt to link the particular sound bothering you with an unrelated image. As an illustration, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
2. Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the culprit. As an example, if someone is eating noisily try joining in. By joining in, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
3. Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to create a little story about the reason someone making the noise is behaving that way. So if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not feeling well or could be emotional. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. Although the sound doesn't change, your understanding of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.