The Holiday Season Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.

A 23-year-old anticipates being with her family during the festive period, but says a primary method she'll endure is by relying on her earplugs - notably for the main festive feast.

For the 23-year-old, this time of year can be a particularly difficult season as the sounds of family members munching, drinking noisily and breathing heavily trigger intense distress.

"I experience this feeling of immediate anxiety, my entire being will just tighten and it as though I'm in peril, and I need to stop these noises."

She has experienced this condition since she was 16 and for her that causes the festive season "exceptionally stressful".

Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, particularly those made by those around you.

The condition is widespread amongst adults. A study discovered almost one in five people are affected by it.

Typically it's noises associated with bodily functions that trigger a reaction, along with things like crunching, breathing, and foot tapping.

'Anxiety Inducing'

The sufferer notes: "I face so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you want to avoid it.

"My family are understanding, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to guarantee the event goes smoothly."

So it's easy to understand why the most wonderful time of the year can transform into a source of agony for affected individuals.

Triggers that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, opening presents, or eating the holiday meal can cause a powerful reaction that can even lead to them avoiding social settings altogether.

Jenna, a 21-year-old student, who has dealt with sound sensitivity for over a decade, explains currently her plan is to use headphones to manage the meal. Typically, she would often retreat in a different room to avoid distressing triggers.

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

"There's an expectation to socialize with family, and I wish to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.

"I feel as if this intense irritation washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel stressed and begin to weep and then the stress response will kick in.

"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and melodramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."

Several Strategies to Cope

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

1. Imagine Something Else: Imagination is key. Try to associate the triggering sound causing distress with a neutral concept. So for example, try to envision someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. This technique is to retrain your mind that the sound affecting you isn't harmful.
2. Make it a Game: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a challenge involving the source. 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 somewhat less sensitive.
3. Develop a Narrative: One more method is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is behaving that way. For example if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not in good health or are troubled. The idea is re-framing the context of the sound. While the sound remains identical, your reaction of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.