Christmas Can Be a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.

One young woman anticipates spending time with her loved ones during the festive period, but admits one of the only ways she'll cope is by relying on her hearing protection - especially during the holiday meal.

In her case, this time of year can be a notably tough time as the noises of people eating, slurping and breathing heavily cause her intense distress.

"There's this sensation of sudden panic, my every muscle will just tense up and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these triggers."

She has suffered from sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that causes the festive season "deeply taxing".

Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, notably sounds produced by individuals.

The condition is widespread across the population. Experts found almost one in five people experience it.

Often it's sounds associated with bodily functions that trigger a reaction, including things like crunching, breathing, and pen clicking.

A Source of Dread

Lottie says: "I face so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid it.

"My family are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to ensure others enjoy themselves."

So it's clear why the traditionally happy period can rapidly become a living nightmare for affected individuals.

Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a powerful reaction that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.

She, a young adult, who has experienced sound sensitivity from childhood, says currently her plan is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. Usually, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to minimize problematic noises.

She explains her sensitivity is more pronounced around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "challenging".

"There's an expectation to socialize with loved ones, and I want to, but it's draining.

"It's like this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and immediately start crying and then fight-or-flight will take over.

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

Three Ways to Manage

For those affected then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, as suggested by clinical psychologists.

1. Imagine Something Else: Creative thinking is key. Attempt to link the particular sound affecting you with an unrelated image. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
2. Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a challenge with the culprit. For example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at mimicking the sound. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
3. Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone creating the sound is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not at their best or are troubled. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. Although the sound stays the same, your reaction of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.