The Holiday Season Often Proves to Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.

One young woman anticipates seeing her relatives over the holidays, but says one of the only ways she'll cope is by using her earplugs - particularly at the holiday meal.

For the 23-year-old, this time of year often feels like a especially challenging season as the auditory triggers of people eating, slurping and sniffling trigger profound anxiety.

"I get this feeling of sudden panic, my whole body will just tighten and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these triggers."

The individual has suffered from this condition from a young age and for her that makes the festive season "deeply taxing".

Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, particularly those produced by individuals.

The condition is widespread in the UK. Experts reported nearly 20% people suffer from it.

Often it's sounds linked to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, as well as examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.

A Source of Dread

She explains: "I face so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you dread it.

"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to make sure others enjoy themselves."

So it's clear why the most wonderful time of the year can transform into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.

Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can trigger a visceral feeling that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.

She, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity since aged 10, explains currently her plan is to put her earphones in to get through dinner. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to escape problematic noises.

She says her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "difficult".

"There's an expectation to be around loved ones, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.

"The sensation is this uncontrollable anger comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will activate.

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

Several Strategies to Manage

For those affected then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, based on advice from specialists.

1. Visualise an Alternative: Imagination is essential. Work on connecting the particular sound affecting you with a neutral concept. So for example, try to picture someone's slurping is just a waterfall. The goal is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
2. Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a game with the person. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at mimicking the sound. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
3. Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is doing it. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not feeling well or could be emotional. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. Even though the sound remains identical, your reaction of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral about it.