Christmas Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Misophonia Sufferers.

A 23-year-old anticipates spending time with her relatives this Christmas, but says a key strategy she'll cope is by using her earplugs - especially during the main festive feast.

In her case, Christmas can be a notably tough season as the sounds of other people chewing, sipping loudly and breathing heavily make her feel profound anxiety.

"I experience this feeling of instant dread, my entire being will just tighten and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to manage these noises."

The individual has experienced this condition from a young age and for her that renders the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".

Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, especially noises produced by individuals.

It's surprisingly common across the population. Experts found a significant portion of people experience it.

Often it's noises connected to bodily functions that cause distress, as well as examples such as crunching, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.

'Anxiety Inducing'

The sufferer notes: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread it.

"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a really big battle of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure the event goes smoothly."

So it's easy to understand why the supposedly joyous period can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.

Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or enjoying festive food can trigger a visceral feeling that can even result in them skipping events entirely.

Jenna, a young adult, who has struggled with sound sensitivity since aged 10, states currently her plan is to listen to music to cope. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a quiet area to minimize problematic noises.

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

"There is pressure to be around loved ones, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

"I feel as if this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying and then the stress response will kick in.

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

Three Ways to Manage

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

1. Picture a Different Scenario: Imagination is essential. Attempt to link the particular sound affecting you with an unrelated image. So for example, try to picture someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
2. Make it a Game: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a game with the culprit. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly try mimicking the sound. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an willing part. And the game aspect 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 creating the sound is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not feeling well or could be emotional. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. Although the sound remains identical, your interpretation of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a little more neutral towards it.