Is there a link between misophonia and OCD? OCD is short for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. People who suffer from OCD feel forced to do certain actions repeatedly as a result of disturbing and unwanted thoughts. These thoughts are beyond the individual’s control, and the obsessive behavior is just an attempt to counter the thoughts. OCD is similar to misophonia in the sense that misophonia also tends to mess with the sufferer’s headspace and keeps their brain occupied with negative thoughts towards specific sounds.
Similarities between Misophonia and OCD
Doctors claim that there is a link between the two. Like misophonia, OCD too ranges from mild to extreme. That is, reactions depend on the intensity of the sufferer’s condition. Treatments must be tailor-made by a specialist who will be able to link misophonia to other potentially related disorders like anxiety and OCD.
Misophonia causes physical reactions like an increase in blood pressure and heart rate which is another common factor. If the blood pressure frequently stays high, it is an alarming situation and requires immediate medical attention. Sometimes OCD patients also complain of sound sensitivity which means that there is a chance that there can be traces and presence of misophonia in OCD patients. Such patients often seek hypnotherapy so that both their issues are looked after. It helps get rid of intrusive thinking and getting the thought pattern fixed.
Differences between Misophonia and OCD
Even though doctors have spotted similarities between the two, it is still important to note that both exist individually as well, which means that they have separate treatment procedures and separate diagnosis. They are mostly said to be interlinked since both compel sufferers towards obsessive behaviors, that hinder their personal growth and comes in the way of their routine activities.
An example of the thought patterns of an OCD patient would be them thinking that maybe they forgot to switch off the light of their bedroom before leaving for work. Now their behavior would revolve around this sudden thought, making them all panicky and sweaty. It means OCD has more to do with internal stimuli. Their thoughts are only limited to them and are internal. However, misophiacs behave the way they do because of external stimuli- sound and noise. These sounds cause them to get frustrated and force them to yell out of aggression.
Both OCD and misophonia have different coping techniques as well. People with misophonia can counter their irritation by wearing earplugs or listening to music depending on the intensity of their condition. This coping technique will temporarily drown out the external noise while individuals suffering from OCD have to look for rather different and relatively intense coping techniques.
Bottom-Line
In recent times, both misophonia and OCD have gotten attention from researchers and doctors who are trying to come up with more treatment options with the help of technology and the knowledge of the brain chemistry of patients with OCD and /or misophonia. These advancements will hopefully make things easier for them.
To conclude, self-diagnosis and recognizing symptoms of both or one is not a safe thing to do. Seek professional help discuss your symptoms, and get to know about your problem in detail by scheduling an appointment with the best misophonia specialist in NYC. Clear out all your confusions and queries. Who knows, you may be a single appointment away from your ultimate goal. So what are you waiting for? Book an appointment today.
Stephen Geller Katz
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