The Holiday Season Can Be a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.

A 23-year-old anticipates spending time with her relatives this Christmas, but notes a primary method she'll cope is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - especially during the holiday meal.

For her, this time of year often feels like a notably tough season as the noises of other people chewing, drinking noisily and sniffling cause her intense distress.

"I get this sensation of instant dread, my whole body will just freeze and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to somehow control these noises."

Lottie has suffered from misophonia from a young age and for her that causes the festive season "exceptionally stressful".

Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, notably sounds coming from individuals.

It is prevalent in the UK. Experts found nearly 20% people are affected by it.

Frequently it's noises linked to bodily functions that cause distress, including things like chewing, breathing, and foot tapping.

Triggering Stress

Lottie says: "You encounter so many different triggering sounds at Christmas and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.

"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to upset others. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to ensure the event goes smoothly."

So it's obvious why the most wonderful season can transform into a living nightmare for sufferers.

Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or eating the holiday meal can provoke a visceral feeling that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.

Jenna, a young adult, who has dealt with sound sensitivity since aged 10, explains currently her plan is to put her earphones in to cope. On any other day, she would frequently go in a separate space to escape distressing triggers.

She notes her condition is worse around people she's most comfortable with, so Christmas is always "hard".

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

"It's like this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and immediately start crying 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 unless you've experienced it."

A Few Techniques to Cope

For those affected then there are various strategies you can use to handle the situation, according to experts.

1. Visualise a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is essential. Try to associate the specific noise causing distress with a neutral concept. So for example, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. This technique is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you is neutral.
2. Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a challenge with the person. For instance, if someone is crunching loudly try joining in. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help distract your brain and make you a little less affected.
3. Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person making the noise is doing it. For example if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not in good health or are troubled. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. While the sound doesn't change, your interpretation of it moves from being annoying, to feeling a little more neutral about it.