Dealing with misophonia

[Digit]

Wiki states: "Misophonia, literally “hatred of sound”,[1] is believed[2] to be a neurological disorder characterized by negative experiences (anger, flight, hatred, disgust) triggered by specific sounds. The sounds can be loud or soft."

I have been suffering with this for years and I just found that not only is there a name for it, but that I am not alone! In my case, the triggers are mostly tv commercials and I believe it is their over the top repetition that does me in. Thank goodness for mute buttons!

Wiki goes on to say "People who have misophonia are most commonly angered, and even enraged, by common ambient sounds, such as other people clipping their nails, brushing teeth, eating, breathing, sniffing, talking, sneezing, yawning, walking, chewing gum, laughing, snoring, typing on a keyboard, whistling or coughing; certain consonants; or repetitive sounds.[9] Some are also affected by visual stimuli, such as repetitive foot or body movements, fidgeting, or movement they observe out of the corners of their eyes. Intense anxiety and avoidant behavior may develop, which can lead to decreased socialization."

The old Kit Kat commercials with the crunch, crunch, crunch made me dive for the remote. That was one of the worst commercials ever for someone like me.

I am thinking of trying EFT to deal with it.

Has anyone else heard of misophonia? If so, how do you deal with it?

[2theleft]

1. I didn't know what it was, but I'm right there with you...

My major annoyance is teenagers endless cell phone chirping or vibrating announcing a text. Or mouth breathers in meetings at work. I become so obsessed on it, then I get frustrated/annoyed, then I get annoyed at myself for being obsessive about it. Vicious cycle.

I was having extreme anxiety earlier this year with the coming of the cicadas...They last time this brood or swarm or whatever they are came, I literally thought I was going to lose my mind from the constant noise. I was VERY lucky that my new house only had a few and with the windows closed I couldn't hear them.

My boyfriend teases me that I should have been on a naval sub (I seem to hear noises that no one else can hear) to detect enemy subs from great distances using sonar. All I know that being extremely sensitive to noises sucks sometimes! Nice to know there is a name for it and others can relate.

If you try the EFT, let us know how it goes!

[Thor_MN]

2. Can't stand the Kit Kat commercials...

They annoy me to no end, and they can't seem to come up with anything else. I generally dislike the "Stomp" type rhythm dominated sound tracks while I like marching band/drumline rhythm. I think it is a matter of coordination. Jazz that is several people playing whatever the hell strikes them at the moment is a musical migraine. In my opinion, it's a just musical circle jerk if there is no coordination.

I have a coworker that tends to eat at her desk and loves crunchy foods, and appears to be unable to chew without her mouth open. I'm diving into headphones as soon as she grabs her lunch.

In terms of TV commercials. I find myself swearing at the TV. I don't know why, but my current "hated" campaign is that dumb ass Bo Dietl doing Arby's ads.

On Edit: if the EFT you mentioned is associated in any way with "Dr." Mercola, I wouldn't spend a dime on any of the crap that he spouts.

[hunter]

3. I don't watch broadcast, satellite or cable televison.

I watch DVDs with the sound very low and the subtitles on.

I bring my foam ear protection to noisy places like concerts, Disneyland, or the movies,

I'm not happy about it, I want to be a real boy, just like Pinocchio or Star Trek's Data.



Don't like noise and most everything in this world is noise.

[TexasBushwhacker]

4. Wow! I didn't know it had a name

I had a roommate that would go nuts when I tapped my fingernails.

[Digit]

7. Evidently, it can be an aversion to many things

What I believe is unusual is our reaction to the stimulus. I will yell at the top of my lungs to drown out the offending sound if the remote is not close.
I live alone, so I am not normally dealing with someone smacking their lips.
I will just remain a cantankerous old lady yelling at the commercials....lol.

[Maraya1969]

5. I have eaten with people who literally bite down on their fork and slide it through

their teeth and even as I am writing this I am cringing. The sound could make me insane

I deal with it by never ever eating with someone that does that. If I happened to end up at a table with someone I would have to tell them to stop. Then again I don't remember it happening for years.

[jeffrey_pdx]

6. A friend of mine said I had ears like a hawk

(Stupid but funny) friends would come over and not be able to hear the sound on the TV. I'm not sure if what I have is what you described.

[Phentex]

8. My husband and son have it...

to the point where I refuse to eat a salad or an apple or corn on the cob near either of them.

I think it was a few years before my husband mentioned his annoyance/disgust/cringing at certain sounds. He blames his mother, lol, but maybe it IS hereditary. He said his mother hated the sound a fork makes occasionally on a plate, that sort of thing. He CANNOT stand that Kit Kat commercial. He hates popcorn eaters at the movies.

When my boys were little, he'd correct them when they were eating apples, or chips. I finally had to make him see that he was the one bothered by this. I'm not talking about people who eat with their mouths open. We can all be bothered by that kind of thing. But to be bothered by someone munching an apple or a carrot, making a normal chewing sound, takes it too far I think.

My teen son said he has trouble eating with friends sometimes because of noises they make. Can't stand ice chewers, bottle squeezers, heavy breathing.

I'm not sure what can be done about it other than trying to just cope.

[scienceforever]

9. Some therapies

Misophonia is a developmental, neurological disorder that most likely has it dysfunction in the sub-cortical regions of the limbic system in the brain. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) helps people reduce the severity of triggers, and helps to stop the expansion of triggers (through time, many sufferers say their triggers expand to many different sounds, visuals, and smells). Other people have had some success with hypnosis, neural feedback, and medications. Medications help reduce associated anxiety and depression but do not seem to have an impact on the misophonia, although some people report having reduced or no symptoms when taking lyrica, which is an anti-seizure med also used for fibromyalgia.

For more info see 'Sound-Rage. A Primer of the Neurobiology and Psychology of a Little Known Anger Disorder' (210 pgs)/

[gopiscrap]

10. welcome to DU

[Digit]

11. That was fascinating and helpful as well

I will take all of this into consideration.

Thank you.