The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.

Lottie is looking forward to being with her relatives during the festive period, but notes a key strategy she'll endure is by using her hearing protection - notably for the holiday meal.

For her, the holidays often feels like a especially challenging period as the sounds of people eating, sipping loudly and nose-blowing trigger intense distress.

"I experience this sensation of immediate anxiety, my every muscle will just freeze and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to manage these noises."

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

Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to certain sounds, particularly those made by individuals.

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

Typically it's noises connected to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, along with things like crunching, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.

A Source of Dread

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

"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a constant struggle of enduring my distress to ensure others enjoy themselves."

So it's clear why the most wonderful season can rapidly become a source of agony for affected individuals.

Noises 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 cause them withdrawing from gatherings.

Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity for over a decade, explains currently her plan is to listen to music to cope. Typically, she would often retreat in a quiet area to escape distressing triggers.

She explains her condition is more intense around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "hard".

"There's an expectation to be around family, and I want to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

"It's like this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then panic will kick in.

"To others it appears as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."

Several Strategies to Manage

If it's an issue then there are a few methods you can try to cope the situation, based on advice from experts.

1. Picture an Alternative: Creative thinking is crucial. Attempt to link the triggering sound bothering you with an unrelated image. So for example, try to picture someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. This technique is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
2. Try a Competition: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a competition with the person. For instance, if someone is eating noisily attempt mimicking the sound. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you a little less affected.
3. Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to create a little story about why the person creating the sound is having to make that sound. So if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not in good health or could be emotional. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. Although the sound stays the same, your understanding of it shifts from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.