The Holiday Season Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.

One young woman hopes for seeing her family during the festive period, but says a key strategy she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her hearing protection - especially during the main festive feast.

In her case, Christmas often feels like a particularly difficult time as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, sipping loudly and nose-blowing trigger profound anxiety.

"I experience this sensation of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just tighten and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to manage these sounds."

She has experienced sound sensitivity for several years and for her that renders the festive season "exceptionally stressful".

Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, particularly those coming from those around you.

It is prevalent in the UK. Experts discovered nearly 20% people experience it.

Typically it's sounds linked to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, including things like crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.

A Source of Dread

Lottie says: "You encounter so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you want to avoid it.

"My family are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to make sure the event goes smoothly."

So it's easy to understand why the supposedly joyous season can quickly turn into a living nightmare for those with the condition.

Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or eating the holiday meal can cause a visceral feeling that can even cause them skipping events entirely.

Jenna, a university student, who has experienced sound sensitivity from childhood, states the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. On any other day, she would frequently go in a quiet area to avoid triggering sounds.

She notes her condition is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "difficult".

"There is pressure to socialize with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's draining.

"The sensation is this uncontrollable anger takes hold, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and begin to weep and then the stress response will take over.

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

Three Ways to Handle It

For those affected then there are a few methods you can attempt to manage the situation, according to experts.

1. Picture a Different Scenario: Mental imagery is key. Work on connecting the triggering sound affecting you with an unrelated image. As an illustration, try to envision someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. By doing this 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 challenge with the culprit. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at joining in. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
3. Craft a Story: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. So 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. While the sound stays the same, your understanding of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.