Christmas Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.

One young woman anticipates seeing her family this Christmas, but says a primary method she'll endure is by using her earplugs - especially during the main festive feast.

For the 23-year-old, this time of year can be a particularly difficult time as the noises of family members munching, sipping loudly and nose-blowing cause her profound anxiety.

"There's this feeling of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just freeze and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to manage these triggers."

The individual has suffered from misophonia since she was 16 and for her that renders the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".

Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, notably sounds produced by other people.

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

Often it's sounds linked to bodily functions that lead to discomfort, as well as things like crunching, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.

A Source of Dread

The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you fear it.

"My relatives are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure the event goes smoothly."

So it's clear why the traditionally happy time of the year can quickly turn into a source of agony for sufferers.

Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can trigger 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 her strategy is to use headphones to get through dinner. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to minimize triggering sounds.

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

"There is pressure to spend time with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

"It's like this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then panic will take over.

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

A Few Techniques to Handle It

If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can use to handle the situation, based on advice from specialists.

1. Imagine an Alternative: Mental imagery is key. Attempt to link the triggering sound bothering you with an unrelated image. As an illustration, try to picture someone's slurping is just a waterfall. By doing this is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
2. Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a game involving the source. As an example, if someone is eating noisily attempt joining in. By joining in, 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 a little less affected.
3. Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about why the person creating the sound is doing it. So if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not feeling well or maybe they're upset. This approach is re-framing the context of the sound. While the noise remains identical, your interpretation of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.