The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.

A 23-year-old hopes for being with her family during the festive period, but notes one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her hearing protection - especially during the holiday meal.

For her, this time of year often feels like a especially challenging period as the sounds of family members munching, slurping and sniffling make her feel intense distress.

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

She has suffered from misophonia for several years and for her that makes the Christmas time "deeply taxing".

Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, particularly those made by those around you.

It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Researchers reported a significant portion of people experience it.

Often it's sounds linked to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, including examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.

'Anxiety Inducing'

The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.

"My family are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to make sure others enjoy themselves."

So it's obvious why the traditionally happy season can transform into a living nightmare for sufferers.

Noises that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a strong emotional response that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.

The student, a young adult, who has experienced misophonia from childhood, states currently her plan is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. On any other day, she would often retreat in a separate space to escape triggering sounds.

She says her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "challenging".

"There's an expectation to spend time with family, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

"The sensation is this uncontrollable anger takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and immediately start crying and then panic will take over.

"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's difficult to convey unless you've experienced it."

A Few Techniques to Handle It

For those affected then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, based on advice from specialists.

1. Picture Something Else: Imagination is essential. Attempt to link the triggering sound bothering you with something completely different. So for example, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. By doing this is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
2. Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the person. For example, if someone is crunching loudly attempt copying the noise. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
3. Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is having to make that sound. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not in good health or maybe they're upset. By doing this is altering the perception of the sound. Although the sound doesn't change, your reaction of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral about it.