Yuletide Can Be a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.

Lottie anticipates spending time with her relatives during the festive period, but notes one of the only ways she'll cope is by relying on her noise-cancelling devices - notably for the main festive feast.

For the 23-year-old, Christmas is a notably tough season as the auditory triggers of other people chewing, slurping and nose-blowing trigger profound anxiety.

"I experience this wave of sudden panic, my whole body will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to stop these sounds."

She has suffered from misophonia from a young age and for her that causes the festive season "deeply taxing".

Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, especially noises made by those around you.

It is prevalent across the population. Researchers discovered almost one in five people are affected by it.

Typically it's noises associated with eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, including things like chewing, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.

'Anxiety Inducing'

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

"Those close to me are aware, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of managing my symptoms to guarantee the event goes smoothly."

So it's clear why the supposedly joyous period can transform into a source of agony for those with the condition.

Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a strong emotional response that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.

The student, a 21-year-old student, who has experienced sound sensitivity from childhood, states the approach she intends to use is to use headphones to manage the meal. On any other day, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to escape triggering sounds.

She notes her condition is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "hard".

"There is pressure to spend time with family, and I want to, but it's draining.

"The sensation is this intense irritation takes hold, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will take over.

"It can come across as if I'm being unreasonable and dramatic, but it's tough to describe unless you've experienced it."

Several Strategies to Manage

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

1. Picture Something Else: Imagination is key. Attempt to link the particular sound bothering you with a neutral concept. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a sink draining water. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
2. Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a competition with the culprit. As an example, if someone is eating noisily try copying the noise. By mimicking, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help shift your attention and make you slightly more tolerant.
3. Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to invent a reason about the reason someone creating the sound is having to make that sound. So if someone was sniffing, maybe they are not at their best or are troubled. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. Even though the sound doesn't change, your interpretation of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.