Christmas Can Be a Living Hell for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.

One young woman is looking forward to spending time with her loved ones during the festive period, 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, this time of year is a notably tough period as the auditory triggers of people eating, sipping loudly and sniffling cause her extremely uncomfortable.

"I get this wave of sudden panic, my every muscle will just tighten and it feels like I'm in peril, and I need to manage these triggers."

She has experienced sound sensitivity for several years and for her that renders the festive season "incredibly overwhelming".

Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, notably sounds produced by those around you.

It is prevalent amongst adults. Researchers found almost one in five people are affected by it.

Typically it's sounds associated with eating or drinking that trigger a reaction, including things like crunching, breathing, and pen clicking.

'Anxiety Inducing'

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

"My relatives are understanding, but I'm very aware that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a really big battle of managing my symptoms to ensure the event goes smoothly."

So it's obvious why the traditionally happy period can transform into a stressful ordeal for affected individuals.

Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, rustling a roll of wrapping paper, or enjoying festive food can provoke a powerful reaction that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.

Jenna, a young adult, who has experienced sound sensitivity from childhood, says currently her plan is to listen to music to get through dinner. Typically, she would frequently go in a quiet area to avoid triggering sounds.

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

"There is pressure to socialize with family, and I wish to, but it's exhausting on all levels.

"The sensation is this sudden rage takes hold, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and immediately start crying and then the stress response will activate.

"It can come across as if I'm being unreasonable and melodramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."

Several Strategies to Manage

If it's an issue then there are various strategies you can try to cope the situation, according to clinical psychologists.

1. Visualise a Different Scenario: Imagination is key. Try to associate the specific noise bothering you with something completely different. For instance, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a sink draining water. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
2. Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a competition with the culprit. For example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at mimicking the sound. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you slightly more tolerant.
3. Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about why the person creating the sound is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not feeling well or maybe they're upset. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. Even though the noise stays the same, your understanding of it changes from being annoying, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.