NOISE can hurt
1 in 5 of us have a disorder. It causes us pain when we hear it.
Some feel real angry.
NOISE can hurt
1 in 5 of us have a disorder. It causes us pain when we hear it.
Some feel real angry.
EVer feel....angry all of a sudden, for no particular reason
At 48, I had a 'honk-induced' meltdown. Picture this: driving calmly, and suddenly, the guy next to me in a truck decides it's showtime for his semi-truck horn. The noise was like a sonic boom in a library. Startled, I veered off the road like a stunt driver in a budget action movie, making a grand entrance into AutoZone. My heart was drumming a solo, hands glued to the wheel. I was facing the driver exiting AutoZone, probably wondering if I was filming a car commercial. The horn wasn’t just loud, it felt like a cactus needle to the brain! It was a lightbulb moment for me – realizing that sounds could be more than annoying, they could turn me into an unwilling stunt driver!
who - how - what - WHEN & why
UP TO 1 in 5 Adults Misophonia.
A study from the UK, published in the journal PLOS ONE, suggests that nearly 1 in 5 people in the general population may experience significant symptoms of misophonia, which translates to about 18% of individuals. These symptoms can include strong negative reactions to common sounds, such as chewing or sniffing, which can lead to feelings of being trapped or helpless and may have a substantial impact on personal and professional relationships. Interestingly, the majority of those who experience these symptoms may not even be aware of the term misophonia, indicating a lack of widespread knowledge about the condition.
How are people affected?
One study highlights that reactions to trigger sounds range from anger and anxiety to disgust, leading to behavioral responses such as verbal aggression or, in rare cases, physical aggression. These overwhelming responses can strain relationships, especially as reactions are more intense when made by family members or in socially inappropriate contexts. Furthermore, these intense reactions can lead to avoidance behaviors, impacting social interactions and activities like family meals or work environments.
What can we do about it?
Minimize noise first. You may know or have an idea of which noises affect you. The same noise may not affect you the same way every time. After I had the incident with the honking truck I looked up misophonia. I read studies, watched videos and began to believe this is real. That day I put in ear plugs and wore them to bed. I spent the next day wearing them and begrugingly realized this is really real. I felt much less tense almost, relaxed. Since that day I cover my ears night and day. I wear noise cancelling headphones during the day and sleep in ear plugs at night.
When are people affected?
The Everyday Triggers Misophonia triggers vary widely among sufferers but often include repetitive sounds like chewing, tapping, or clicking. These sounds, seemingly benign to others, can evoke feelings of anger, panic, or the need to escape in those with misophonia. The condition can make common social situations, like family dinners or meetings in quiet conference rooms, unexpectedly challenging.
Why does this happen?
We have, no clue. Misophonia isnt listed in the DSM. In fact the history of Misophonia is spotty and largely only investigated within the last 20 years. Thanks to these peeps we've got the most knowledge thansk to science.