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

One young woman anticipates seeing her family this Christmas, but notes one of the only ways she'll cope is by using her earplugs - particularly at Christmas dinner.

For the 23-year-old, the holidays often feels like a particularly difficult time as the noises of family members munching, drinking noisily and breathing heavily cause her extremely uncomfortable.

"I experience this feeling of sudden panic, my entire being will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these noises."

She has suffered from misophonia since she was 16 and for her that renders the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".

Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, notably sounds coming from individuals.

It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Researchers discovered nearly 20% people suffer from it.

Frequently it's noises connected to mouth, throat or facial movements that lead to discomfort, as well as things like chewing, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.

'Anxiety Inducing'

The sufferer notes: "You encounter so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.

"My family are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to make sure others enjoy themselves."

So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous season can rapidly become a living nightmare for sufferers.

Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can trigger a visceral feeling that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.

The student, a university student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity since aged 10, states her strategy is to put her earphones in to cope. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to minimize problematic noises.

She says her sensitivity is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so the holidays is always "challenging".

"There's an expectation to spend time with loved ones, and I wish to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

"The sensation is this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will kick in.

"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe without firsthand experience."

Several Strategies to Manage

For those affected then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, according to specialists.

1. Visualise a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is essential. Try to associate the particular sound affecting you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you is neutral.
2. Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a competition involving the source. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at copying the noise. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
3. Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about the reason someone making the noise is doing it. So if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not in good health or could be emotional. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. Although the noise remains identical, your reaction of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.