Christmas Transforms Into a Living Hell for Misophonia Sufferers.

Lottie anticipates spending time with her loved ones this Christmas, but admits a primary method she'll cope is by wearing her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at the main festive feast.

For her, this time of year often feels like a especially challenging time as the auditory triggers of people eating, slurping and nose-blowing make her feel intense distress.

"There's this feeling of instant dread, my whole body will just tense up and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to manage these sounds."

She has suffered from misophonia since she was 16 and for her that causes the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".

Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, particularly those made by other people.

It is prevalent amongst adults. A study reported almost one in five people are affected by it.

Often it's noises connected to bodily functions that cause distress, including things like chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.

'Anxiety Inducing'

Lottie says: "There are so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.

"My relatives are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure others enjoy themselves."

So it's clear why the supposedly joyous time of the year can quickly turn into a source of agony for affected individuals.

Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can provoke a visceral feeling that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.

Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with misophonia for over a decade, says her strategy is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. Usually, she would often retreat in a different room to minimize problematic noises.

She says her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "hard".

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

"It's like this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will kick in.

"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."

Three Ways to Cope

If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, according to clinical psychologists.

1. Picture an Alternative: Imagination is crucial. Work on connecting the triggering sound affecting you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
2. Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and make the irritating noise into a competition with the person. For instance, if someone is eating noisily try copying the noise. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you slightly more tolerant.
3. Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not in good health or maybe they're upset. By doing this is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the sound remains identical, your reaction of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.