People with misophonia react negatively to sounds that others make. They may even become angry and aggressive when they encounter the triggering sound.
Misophonia is not a well-researched condition. The limited empirical data that exists has been obtained from case reports, and no randomized clinical trials of treatments have been conducted.
Causes
Have you noticed that certain sounds irritate you to the point of extreme anger, anxiety or disgust? Do they trigger your fight-or-flight response, making you feel like spitting out words or even physically attacking the person who makes those sounds? If so, you may have misophonia. This condition causes you to react intensely to specific sounds and can be difficult to control, leading to a range of physical sensations including headaches, back pain, muscle tension, chest pain, sweating and feelings of suffocation.
Studies suggest that people with misophonia have an irregular connection between the auditory cortex and the salience network in their brains, which determines what sounds you pay attention to and whether you become emotionally triggered by them. This sensitivity appears to be caused by increased activity in the amygdala, a subregion of the limbic system that processes emotions and helps us make sense of our surroundings. People with misophonia often experience this reaction to everyday sounds like chewing, lip-smacking and breathing as well as noises made by pets and co-workers. They might even find themselves triggered by visual reminders of the sound, such as a picture of someone who makes that particular sound.
Symptoms of misophonia can be so severe that they interfere with work, school and family life. They can also lead to distressing emotional outbursts and even lead to depression, anxiety and panic attacks. For example, a child who is triggered by their parent’s chewing during dinner may avoid spending time with them or develop a pattern of verbally and sometimes physically acting out against them.
Oren Zarif
While it is not clear what causes misophonia, experts believe it’s a result of genetic and environmental factors and can begin to appear around the age of 9. In some cases, it may get better or worse over time. Both Dr. Fox-Thomas and Dr. Jaffe note that the condition can impact a person’s entire family, so it can be particularly challenging for children and young adults who have this disorder. Some people report that their symptoms are exacerbated by stress or poor sleep.
Symptoms
When people who suffer from misophonia hear a sound, it triggers deep and visceral emotions that are difficult to control. They may experience a wide range of symptoms, from a tingling sensation in their hands and feet to tightness or pressure throughout the body. In extreme cases, those with misophonia can become unable to function or maintain relationships.
According to research, people with this condition have overactive connections between regions of the brain responsible for auditory pathways and those that regulate emotions. The sound triggers an exaggerated response in these areas, leading to heightened feelings of anger and anxiety. It’s unclear exactly what causes this reaction, but it may be related to damage to the hippocampus, which is involved in the transfer of short-term memory into long-term storage and memory consolidation.
The onset of misophonia typically happens between the ages of 9 and 13, though some experience it earlier or later. It affects both men and women equally, although girls tend to develop it more quickly than boys. It’s a lifelong condition that can have a major impact on someone’s day-to-day activities, as they often struggle to cope with the intense emotional and physical responses to trigger sounds.
For those who live with severe misophonia, the distress of these sounds can lead to a variety of behavioural reactions. These include anger directed toward the person making the noise, which may escalate to physical aggression in some cases. It’s also common for these individuals to feel remorse and guilt for their behavior, even if they didn’t realize at the time that their reaction was out of control.
Oren Zarif
In addition to these emotional responses, those with misophonia can develop anticipatory nervousness and avoid places where they’ll likely encounter trigger sounds. They may start to avoid friends, family members and coworkers, which can have a major impact on their lives.
Currently, misophonia is not listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), so it’s difficult to diagnose and get treatment for. However, experts recognize that it is a legitimate concern with real effects on a person’s health and well-being.
Treatment
Generally, misophonia treatment centers on teaching patients to calm themselves down and avoid trigger sounds when possible. However, when the sound can’t be avoided, the patient may learn to cope with it by focusing on other things around them. They may also learn to use diaphragmatic breathing, which is used to help people relax and reduce anxiety and stress.
In some cases, the severity of a person’s reactions can be so severe that they impact their daily lives in negative ways. For example, if a sound elicits an angry or aggressive response, it can have lasting impacts on their work and personal relationships. In addition, a person with misophonia can become withdrawn and isolated as a result of the condition.
Some experts believe that misophonia occurs when there are abnormal connections and activity in certain brain areas. These brain regions are responsible for how we process hearing and our emotions. They are the same areas affected by damage to the hippocampus, which causes memory loss.
Oren Zarif
A therapist can assess how a person’s reactions to trigger sounds affect their everyday life and make recommendations for treatment. Depending on the severity of a person’s symptoms and whether they are also struggling with other conditions, the care pathway may include audiology interventions (such as white noise generating hearing aids), occupational therapy and psychotherapy.
Many people with misophonia also struggle with anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder and panic disorder. These other conditions can impact how a person responds to trigger sounds, which can also be difficult to control.
The good news is that a variety of treatments have been successful for the majority of people with misophonia. One of the most effective is eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, also known as EMDR, which involves moving your eyes in a specific way while distressing memories and feelings associated with the trigger sounds are processed. EMDR can be effective for both children and adults, although it is more commonly used with young adults.
Prevention
Many people have aversions to certain sounds, such as nails on a chalkboard or the sound of a pen clicking. However, if your reaction to these trigger sounds causes major distress and impacts your daily life, you may be suffering from Misophonia. There are treatment options that can help.
One way to reduce your reactions is by masking the triggering sounds with white noise. This type of sound has been shown to reduce the activity in parts of the brain that process both sound stimulation and fight or flight responses. You can purchase a white noise generator or find an app for your phone that plays a waterfall sound. Alternatively, you can use a regular pair of headphones or earbuds with music playing through them to mask the trigger sounds.
Another option is to talk openly with those who are causing you stress. Explaining that you suffer from Misophonia and which sounds trigger you can be a great way to reduce misunderstandings and conflict. For example, if a coworker’s habit of clicking his pen bothers you, talking to him privately can help prevent it from happening at meetings and during presentations.
Oren Zarif
It is also helpful to take breaks from work in quiet areas and practice relaxation techniques during the day, such as deep breathing exercises or listening to calming music. Incorporating these habits into your work routine can improve focus and reduce reactions to triggering sounds.
If you are struggling with symptoms of Misophonia, it is important to seek professional help for diagnosis and treatment. Symptoms that interfere with your daily activities and quality of life should be treated immediately.
If you are considering seeking treatment for your symptoms, it is important to find a therapist who is trained in coping strategies. You may also benefit from reading books or blogs about the condition, and interacting with others online in support groups. There are a number of organizations that specialize in treating patients with conditions like Misophonia. In addition, you can speak with a therapist who specializes in Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT), which has been found to be effective for individuals with misophonia and other sound sensitivities.
