Christmas Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.

Lottie hopes for seeing her loved ones this Christmas, but notes a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by using her hearing protection - notably for Christmas dinner.

For the 23-year-old, this time of year often feels like a particularly difficult season as the noises of people eating, sipping loudly and nose-blowing cause her intense distress.

"I experience this wave of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to manage these sounds."

The individual has experienced sound sensitivity from a young age and for her that causes the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".

Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, especially noises made by other people.

The condition is widespread across the population. Experts reported nearly 20% people experience it.

Frequently it's noises linked to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, as well as things like crunching, breathing, and pen clicking.

A Source of Dread

Lottie says: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you dread it.

"My family are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to guarantee others enjoy themselves."

So it's clear why the supposedly joyous season can transform into a living nightmare for those with the condition.

Triggers that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can cause a visceral feeling that can even result in them skipping events entirely.

The student, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced sound sensitivity since aged 10, says her strategy is to listen to music to cope. Typically, she would frequently go in a different room to avoid distressing triggers.

She explains her condition is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".

"There is pressure to spend time with loved ones, and I want to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.

"The sensation is this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears 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."

A Few Techniques to Handle It

For those affected then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, based on advice from experts.

1. Picture a Different Scenario: Imagination is key. Try to associate the triggering sound affecting you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
2. Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a challenge involving the source. For example, if someone is eating noisily attempt copying the noise. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
3. Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone creating the sound is behaving that way. So if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not feeling well or are troubled. By doing this is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the sound stays the same, your reaction of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.