The Holiday Season Can Be a Nightmare for Misophonia Sufferers.

One young woman is looking forward to being with her family during the festive period, but notes one of the only ways she'll cope is by relying on her hearing protection - notably for the holiday meal.

For her, this time of year is a especially challenging time as the auditory triggers of family members munching, sipping loudly and sniffling cause her intense distress.

"I get this feeling of sudden panic, my entire being will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these triggers."

She has suffered from this condition for several years and for her that causes the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".

Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, especially noises made by those around you.

It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Experts discovered almost one in five people are affected by it.

Typically it's noises associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that cause distress, along with examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.

A Source of Dread

Lottie says: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you dread it.

"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to ensure everyone else is happy."

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

Noises that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can cause a powerful reaction that can even cause them skipping events entirely.

Jenna, a young adult, who has experienced misophonia for over a decade, states her strategy is to listen to music to get through dinner. Typically, she would often retreat in a quiet area to avoid distressing triggers.

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

"There is pressure to socialize with family, and I want to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.

"The sensation is this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then panic will activate.

"To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and melodramatic, but it's tough to describe if you haven't felt it."

A Few Techniques to Manage

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

1. Visualise Something Else: Imagination is essential. Try to associate the triggering sound causing distress with a neutral concept. For instance, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
2. Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge involving the source. For instance, if someone is eating noisily have a go at copying the noise. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the competition element 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 the reason someone making the noise is having to make that sound. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not feeling well or maybe they're upset. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. While the sound remains identical, your understanding of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral about it.