Christmas Can Be a Terrifying Experience for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.

Lottie is looking forward to seeing her family this Christmas, but notes a key strategy she'll cope is by using her noise-cancelling devices - particularly at Christmas dinner.

For the 23-year-old, this time of year often feels like a especially challenging time as the sounds of other people chewing, slurping and breathing heavily trigger extremely uncomfortable.

"I get this sensation of sudden panic, my entire being will just tighten and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these triggers."

She has lived with sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that causes the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".

Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to certain sounds, particularly those produced by other people.

It's surprisingly common amongst adults. Researchers found nearly 20% people experience it.

Often it's sounds associated with eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, along with examples such as crunching, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.

'Anxiety Inducing'

She explains: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you dread 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 sacrificing my own sanity to ensure others enjoy themselves."

So it's clear why the supposedly joyous time of the year can transform into a stressful ordeal for those with the condition.

Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can cause a powerful reaction that can even lead to them withdrawing from gatherings.

Jenna, a university student, who has struggled with sound sensitivity since aged 10, explains the approach she intends to use is to listen to music to cope. On any other day, she would frequently go in a quiet area to escape distressing triggers.

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

"There's an expectation to spend time with family, and I desire to, but it's draining.

"The sensation is this uncontrollable anger washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and immediately start crying and then panic will kick in.

"It can come across as if I'm being unreasonable and melodramatic, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."

Several Strategies to Manage

If it's an issue then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by clinical psychologists.

1. Imagine an Alternative: Creative thinking is key. Try to associate the particular sound bothering you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. By doing this is to teach your brain that the sound affecting you is neutral.
2. Use Humor: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a game involving the source. For instance, if someone is eating noisily try copying the noise. By mimicking, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the competition element should help shift your attention and make you slightly more tolerant.
3. Create a Scenario: A further strategy is to try to create a little story about the reason someone creating the sound is behaving that way. Imagine if someone was sniffing, it could be that they're not feeling well or maybe they're upset. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. Although the noise stays the same, your interpretation of it moves from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.