Christmas Transforms Into a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.

One young woman hopes for seeing her family this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her noise-cancelling devices - especially during the holiday meal.

For the 23-year-old, Christmas often feels like a particularly difficult season as the sounds of family members munching, sipping loudly and breathing heavily trigger profound anxiety.

"I experience this wave of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these sounds."

The individual has experienced sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that causes the holiday period "exceptionally stressful".

Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, particularly those made by individuals.

The condition is widespread in the UK. Researchers reported almost one in five people suffer from it.

Frequently it's sounds linked to eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, as well as examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.

'Anxiety Inducing'

The sufferer notes: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you fear it.

"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to ensure the event goes smoothly."

So it's easy to understand why the most wonderful time of the year can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for affected individuals.

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

She, a young adult, who has struggled with sound sensitivity since aged 10, states her strategy is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to avoid triggering sounds.

She says her sensitivity is worse around people she's closest to, 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.

"I feel as if this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then the stress response will take over.

"To others it appears as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's difficult to convey unless you've experienced it."

Three Ways to Handle It

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

1. Visualise an Alternative: Creative thinking is essential. Try to associate the triggering sound affecting you with an unrelated image. As an illustration, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you is neutral.
2. Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the person. As an example, if someone is eating noisily try joining in. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you slightly more tolerant.
3. Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not in good health or maybe they're upset. By doing this is re-framing the context of the sound. While the noise doesn't change, your understanding of it changes from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate towards it.