Misophonia is a neurological auditory (sometimes visual) condition that causes extreme irritation and annoyance towards sounds produced by ordinary human actions like chewing. The central nervous system of a misphoniac’s brain tends to misinterpret and has trouble processing specific sounds.
An Understanding of What Is Misophonia
Misophonia is not a psychiatric disorder, it is a form of anxiety. It causes one to panic and become anxious. It is mostly auditory but sometimes it even involves visual triggers. Meaning,not being able to resist the sight of constant and repetitive actions.
For example, nodding of head or jiggling of foot. It can also be both audio-visual. As in, looking at someone snapping their fingers non stop and hearing the sound of the snaps at the same time. People who have this condition typically have excellent hearing skills and are very sensitive to sound and its volumes. To sum up what it feels like, imagine someone scratching the wall with their sharp finger nails. The sound produced by this action makes the sufferer’s blood boil and gives them goose bumps.
Common Symptoms of Misophonia
Some of the most common signs and symptoms of misophoniainclude not being able to toleratethe sound at all and wanting to flee the scene. Aggression towards the origin of the sound and expressing discomfort by angrily telling them to stop. Mimicking the same sound in an attempt to block it out. The intensity of reactions can vary tremendously; some may try to sit through it and distract themselves by listening to songs.
Some can even go the extent of skipping parties, important social gatherings and avoiding any social contact altogether, which can make it harder for them to achieve goals and enjoy interpersonal interactions.
When Symptoms Are Evident
People usually start showing symptoms in their late childhood or early teenage. However, it can be developed in both males and females at any age. People with Misophonia know that the intensity of their reactions is excessive and sometimes they also feel like everything is falling apart and that they are losing control. Another major symptom that can be prominently seen in individuals with Misophonia is the fact that when they try to look for solutions and simply think about encountering the triggering sounds, they feel stressed out and anxious. Just the thought of it gets them all sweaty.
Moreover, individuals suffering from misophonia also experience physical reactions including, immense pressure throughout the body, mainly the chest. Muscle tightness and fluctuating blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, and high body temperature are the reactions that can be very dangerous if not taken care of at the right time. If the heart rate and blood pressure stays high frequently and nothing is done to lower it down, then there are high chances of cardiac problems.
Bottom-Line
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a good option for misophoniacs. It helps individuals identify thought patterns that lead to certain unpleasant behaviors. If they become more self aware, they would be able to handle their emotions and triggers in a better manner. For instance, not expressing rage and explaining the problem to the noise maker instead. This will have a direct effect on their heart rate as well. Since now they would know how to be calm and avoid outbursts.
Therefore, if you have noticed these symptoms in yourself and you are not able to manage the emotional or physical reactions of misophonia on your own, then you must seek medical help as soon as possible.
To schedule and book your appointment with the best Misophonia specialist in NYC, contact us today!
Wow! Couldn’t have said it better,this just perfectly explained what I’ve been going through for the past 22 years and i used to believe I am the only person that knows this feeling in the world but now I’m enlightened,Thank you so much.