Yuletide Can Be a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.

Lottie hopes for seeing her relatives this Christmas, but admits one of the only ways she'll cope is by wearing her hearing protection - notably for Christmas dinner.

In her case, Christmas is a especially challenging period as the auditory triggers of family members munching, sipping loudly and breathing heavily make her feel extremely uncomfortable.

"There's this feeling of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these noises."

She has lived with this condition for several years and for her that makes the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".

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

The condition is widespread amongst adults. A study found almost one in five people are affected by it.

Typically it's noises linked to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, as well as things like crunching, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.

Triggering Stress

She explains: "I face so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you fear it.

"My relatives are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to ensure everyone else is happy."

So it's obvious why the supposedly joyous time of the year can transform into a stressful ordeal for affected individuals.

Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or enjoying festive food can cause a visceral feeling that can even lead to them skipping events entirely.

Jenna, a young adult, who has experienced misophonia since aged 10, explains the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to get through dinner. Typically, she would frequently go in a quiet area to avoid triggering sounds.

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

"There's an expectation to spend time with family, and I wish to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

"The sensation is this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and burst into tears and then panic will activate.

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

Several Strategies to Cope

If you suffer then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, according to experts.

1. Visualise a Different Scenario: Imagination is crucial. Attempt to link the particular sound affecting you with something completely different. For instance, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to help your brain learn 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 challenge involving the source. For example, if someone is crunching loudly try joining in. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you somewhat less sensitive.
3. Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about the reason someone creating the sound is doing it. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not at their best or are troubled. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the noise stays the same, your interpretation of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.