Yuletide Transforms Into a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.

One young woman is looking forward to being with her family this Christmas, but notes one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by using her hearing protection - particularly at Christmas dinner.

In her case, this time of year can be a notably tough period as the sounds of family members munching, sipping loudly and nose-blowing make her feel extremely uncomfortable.

"I get this feeling of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these triggers."

She has lived with misophonia from a young age and for her that causes the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".

Misophonia is a decreased threshold to certain sounds, notably sounds produced by those around you.

It is prevalent across the population. Experts found a significant portion of people experience it.

Often it's sounds associated with eating or drinking that cause distress, as well as examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.

A Source of Dread

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

"My family are supportive, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to ensure everyone else is happy."

So it's easy to understand why the traditionally happy time of the year can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.

Sounds that may be considered normal, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a visceral feeling that can even cause them skipping events entirely.

Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced sound sensitivity for over a decade, explains the approach she intends to use is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. On any other day, she would often retreat in a quiet area to minimize triggering sounds.

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

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

"I feel as if this intense irritation comes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then the stress response will kick in.

"To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's hard to explain if you haven't felt it."

Several Strategies to Cope

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

1. Picture Something Else: Mental imagery is crucial. Try to associate the triggering sound bothering you with an unrelated image. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
2. Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a game with the culprit. For example, if someone is crunching loudly try copying the noise. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
3. Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is doing it. So if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. By doing this is changing the meaning of the sound. Even though the sound doesn't change, your interpretation of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.