Yuletide Transforms Into a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.

A 23-year-old anticipates being with her relatives this Christmas, but admits a primary method she'll endure is by wearing her hearing protection - notably for the holiday meal.

For the 23-year-old, this time of year is a particularly difficult period as the noises of family members munching, slurping and breathing heavily trigger profound anxiety.

"I get this feeling of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to manage these noises."

Lottie has experienced this condition for several years and for her that renders the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".

Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to particular auditory triggers, particularly those made by those around you.

It is prevalent in the UK. Experts reported a significant portion of people suffer from it.

Often it's noises connected to mouth, throat or facial movements that lead to discomfort, along with things like chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.

'Anxiety Inducing'

She explains: "I face so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.

"Those close to me 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 sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee everyone else is happy."

So it's obvious why the most wonderful period can quickly turn into a living nightmare for those with the condition.

Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can provoke a visceral feeling that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.

Jenna, a young adult, who has experienced sound sensitivity from childhood, explains the approach she intends to use is to use headphones to cope. On any other day, she would frequently go in a separate space to avoid problematic noises.

She notes her misophonia is more intense around people she's closest to, so the holidays is always "difficult".

"There's an expectation to be around loved ones, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

"I feel as if this uncontrollable anger takes hold, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then panic will activate.

"It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's hard to explain if you haven't felt it."

Several Strategies to Cope

If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by experts.

1. Picture an Alternative: Creative thinking is key. Work on connecting the specific noise affecting you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. The goal is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you is neutral.
2. Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a competition 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 game aspect should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
3. Create a Scenario: One more method is to try to invent a reason about why the person 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 maybe they're upset. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. While the noise stays the same, your interpretation of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.