Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.

Lottie hopes for spending time with her family during the festive period, but notes a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her hearing protection - particularly at the main festive feast.

In her case, this time of year is a notably tough season as the auditory triggers of people eating, drinking noisily and breathing heavily trigger intense distress.

"I experience this wave of sudden panic, my every muscle will just freeze and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to manage these sounds."

The individual has experienced sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that causes the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".

Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, especially noises produced by individuals.

The condition is widespread in the UK. Researchers reported a significant portion of people experience it.

Frequently it's sounds associated with eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, as well as things like crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.

Triggering Stress

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 understanding, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to make sure the event goes smoothly."

So it's easy to understand why the most wonderful time of the year can transform into a stressful ordeal for affected individuals.

Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a visceral feeling that can even result in them skipping events entirely.

Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced misophonia since aged 10, explains the approach she intends to use is to use headphones to manage the meal. Usually, she would frequently go in a separate space to minimize triggering sounds.

She notes her sensitivity is worse around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".

"People assume you to socialize with family, and I wish to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

"The sensation is this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then the stress response will kick in.

"It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and dramatic, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."

Several Strategies to Cope

If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by experts.

1. Visualise an Alternative: Creative thinking is essential. Attempt to link the specific noise affecting you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to imagine someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
2. Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the person. As an example, if someone is eating noisily try copying the noise. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an engaged person. And the competition element 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 creating the sound is having to make that sound. For example if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not in good health or are troubled. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the sound doesn't change, your interpretation of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.