The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.

One young woman hopes for seeing her relatives this Christmas, but admits a primary method she'll cope is by wearing her earplugs - especially during the main festive feast.

For the 23-year-old, this time of year often feels like a especially challenging time as the sounds of people eating, sipping loudly and sniffling cause her extremely uncomfortable.

"There's this feeling of instant dread, my every muscle will just freeze and it as though I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to manage these noises."

She has suffered from this condition for several years and for her that makes the holiday period "deeply taxing".

Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, notably sounds coming from those around you.

It is prevalent amongst adults. Experts reported a significant portion of people experience it.

Typically it's noises linked to mouth, throat or facial movements that trigger a reaction, including examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.

A Source of Dread

The sufferer notes: "I face so many different triggering sounds at the holidays and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.

"Those close to me are supportive, 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 ensure others enjoy themselves."

So it's clear why the most wonderful period can quickly turn into a source of agony for those with the condition.

Sounds that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a powerful reaction that can even result in them skipping events entirely.

The student, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with misophonia since aged 10, states her strategy is to listen to music to cope. Typically, she would frequently go in a different room to escape distressing triggers.

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

"People assume you to spend time with family, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.

"I feel as if this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel stressed and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will activate.

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

Several Strategies to Cope

If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, according to clinical psychologists.

1. Imagine Something Else: Mental imagery is crucial. Work on connecting the specific noise affecting you with something completely different. For instance, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you is neutral.
2. Try a Competition: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the person. As an 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 active participant. And the competition element should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
3. Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone making the noise is doing it. Imagine if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not at their best or could be emotional. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. Although the sound doesn't change, your understanding of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.