Yuletide Can Be a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.

One young woman hopes for being with her family over the holidays, but says a primary method she'll cope is by using her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at the main festive feast.

For her, this time of year is a especially challenging season as the auditory triggers of people eating, slurping and nose-blowing trigger profound anxiety.

"There's this sensation of sudden panic, my every muscle will just tense up and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these sounds."

The individual has suffered from misophonia since she was 16 and for her that renders the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".

Misophonia is a decreased threshold to particular auditory triggers, especially noises made by other people.

It's surprisingly common in the UK. Researchers found nearly 20% people experience it.

Typically it's sounds linked to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, including examples such as crunching, breathing, and pen clicking.

'Anxiety Inducing'

The sufferer notes: "I face so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.

"My relatives are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of sacrificing my own sanity to ensure the event goes smoothly."

So it's clear why the supposedly joyous period can quickly turn into a source of agony for sufferers.

Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a powerful reaction that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.

Jenna, a university student, who has struggled with misophonia from childhood, says her strategy is to listen to music to get through dinner. On any other day, she would often retreat in a quiet area to minimize triggering sounds.

She notes her misophonia is worse around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".

"There's an expectation to be around loved ones, and I wish to, but it's draining.

"I feel as if this intense irritation takes hold, 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 if you haven't felt it."

A Few Techniques to Handle It

If you suffer then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, based on advice from experts.

1. Picture a Different Scenario: Imagination is key. Work on connecting the particular sound causing distress with a neutral concept. For instance, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
2. Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a game with the person. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at joining in. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
3. Create a Scenario: One more method is to try to invent a reason about why the person making the noise is doing it. So if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not at their best or could be emotional. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the noise doesn't change, your reaction of it shifts from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.