Misophonia is a condition where patients experience a
negative emotional reaction and dislike
(e.g., anxiety, agitation, and annoyance) to specific sounds (e.g., ballpoint pen clicking (repeatedly), tapping, typing, chewing, breathing, swallowing, tapping foot, etc.)
Is misophonia a side effect of anxiety?
Simply thinking about encountering sounds that trigger their misophonia can make people with the
condition feel stressed and ill at ease
. In general, they may have more symptoms of anxiety, depression, and neuroses than others.
Is misophonia a mental health issue?
Nonetheless, misophonia is a real disorder and one that seriously compromises functioning,
socializing, and ultimately mental health
. Misophonia usually appears around age 12, and likely affects more people than we realize.
How do you calm down with misophonia?
One strategy for coping with misophonia is to
slowly expose yourself to your triggers at low doses and in low-stress situations
. This strategy works best with the help of a therapist or doctor. Try carrying earplugs when you go out in public.
Is misophonia a form of anxiety?
Preliminary research demonstrates that
misophonia and anxiety are two separate disorders
. However, the two conditions certainly interact (Cavanna & Seri, 2015). Both misophonia and anxiety tap into the same neurophysiological systems.
Is misophonia a symptom of autism?
Intriguingly, misophonic symptoms and sensory over-responsivity have been recently documented in the context of pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder,
16 – 18
as well as a number of neurodevelopmental conditions, including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, autistic spectrum disorder, and Fragile X syndrome.
Is misophonia a symptom of ADHD?
It's a real thing, called misophonia — the dislike or even hatred of small, routine sounds, such as someone chewing, slurping, yawning, or breathing. It's often
an ADHD comorbidity
. Similar to ADHD itself, misophonia is not something we can just get over if only we tried harder.
Can misophonia go away?
While
there is no known specific cure for misophonia
and little rigorous (controlled studies) research regarding effective treatments, there are a number of approaches that tend to be used with some apparent success.
Why is my misophonia getting worse?
Blocking out sound actually makes the misophonia worse
. The trigger sounds become much more intrusive — perhaps even more trigger sounds develop — and earplugs are worn more frequently. Recent research has shown that we have central auditory gain.
Is misophonia a form of OCD?
In misophonia specific sounds elicit an intense negative emotional response. Misophonia
was more strongly related to obsessive symptoms of OCD
. OCD symptoms partially mediated the relationship between AS severity and misophonia. Results are consistent with cognitive-behavioral conceptualizations of misophonia.
Why do I get so angry when I hear chewing?
For people with a rare condition known as misophonia, certain sounds like slurping, chewing, tapping and clicking can elicit intense feelings of rage or panic.
What do you call a person with misophonia?
The term misophonia, meaning “hatred of sound,” was coined in 2000 for people who were not afraid of sounds — such people are called
phonophobic
— but for those who strongly disliked certain noises.
Is misophonia neurological or psychological?
The best way to classify misophonia is as a
neurophysiological disorder with psychological consequences
. More specifically, individuals with misophonia experience heightened autonomic nervous system arousal accompanied by negative emotional reactivity in response to specific, pattern-based sounds.
What it feels like to have Misophonia?
With misophonia mundane noises like
eating, typing
and even breathing can prompt responses like violent anger, disgust and anxiety. These intense emotions are accompanied by a high level physical response – think fast heartbeats, tension, shakiness and sweating.
What should you not say to someone with Misophonia?
Don't say, “
You make me so mad, I want to…
” or “I hate it when you chew like that.” Try something like, “That sound really triggers me,” or “I lose it when I hear that sound.” You're talking about you and a sound, not the other person. “When I hear your eating, it triggers me.” Remember it's a reflex.
How do I know if I have Misophonia?
Do not apologize
for Misophonia or make excuses. Say that it is a neurological condition, and that you have it. Be matter-of-fact, and explain that unfortunately there is no cure. Discuss a way that you can let them know you are being triggered, without being offensive, or turning to anger.
