The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Those with Misophonia.

Lottie anticipates seeing her relatives over the holidays, but notes one of the only ways she'll endure is by wearing her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at the holiday meal.

For the 23-year-old, this time of year can be a notably tough period as the noises of people eating, slurping and nose-blowing trigger profound anxiety.

"I get this wave of instant dread, my entire being will just tense up and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to stop these sounds."

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

Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, especially noises made by those around you.

The condition is widespread across the population. A study discovered nearly 20% people suffer from it.

Typically it's noises linked to bodily functions that trigger a reaction, along with examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.

A Source of Dread

Lottie says: "I face so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you fear it.

"Those close to me are supportive, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to make sure everyone else is happy."

So it's clear why the most wonderful season can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for sufferers.

Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can trigger a visceral feeling that can even result in them avoiding social settings altogether.

She, a young adult, who has dealt with sound sensitivity for over a decade, says her strategy is to listen to music to cope. Usually, she would often retreat in a different room to minimize problematic noises.

She says her sensitivity is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "challenging".

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

"The sensation is this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will take over.

"To others it appears as if I'm being unreasonable and overreacting, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."

A Few Techniques to Cope

For those affected then there are some different techniques you can attempt to manage the situation, based on advice from experts.

1. Picture an Alternative: Mental imagery is crucial. Attempt to link the specific noise causing distress with a neutral concept. For instance, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound triggering you poses no threat.
2. Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and make the irritating noise into a competition with the person. For example, if someone is eating noisily try mimicking the sound. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you a little less affected.
3. Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is having to make that sound. So if someone was making a nasal sound, maybe they are not at their best or are troubled. This approach is changing the meaning of the sound. While the sound doesn't change, your interpretation of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.