Misophonia is a sensory condition that causes a person to have extreme sensitivity to specific sounds or stimuli, also known as triggers, resulting in them experiencing intense emotional, physical, and behavioral responses to those triggers.
The symptoms of misophonia revolve around how a person reacts to trigger sounds. The reactions are a part of the body’s natural “fight-or-flight” instincts.
When a person experiences an emotional reaction to a trigger, the feelings can be intense or overwhelming. These feelings escalate rapidly, causing irritation or annoyance to quickly turn into anger or rage. Emotional reactions can include:
· Anger
· Anxiety
· Disgust
· Fear
· Irritation
If a person experiences a physical reaction to a trigger, the self-protective process automatically kicks in, similarly to what happens when a person is in a dangerous or frightening situation. Physical reactions can include:
· Increase in blood pressure
· Chest pressure or tightness
· Goosebumps
· Increase in heart rate
· Sweating
When a person experiences a behavioral reaction to a trigger, the reaction is usually impulse- or instinct-driven. This means that a person may not have full control over those reactions. Violent reactions, towards either people or objects, are possible but not common. Behavioral reactions can include:
· Avoiding situations where trigger sounds can happen
· Leaving the area when a trigger sound happens
· Verbal or vocal reactions, such as talking or yelling at who/what made the sound
· Non-violent action to stop the sound
· Violent action to stop the sound
This phenomenon of misophonia affects people differently. Some people may only have one trigger that causes those responses. However, some people can have several trigger sounds.
Additionally, they can have responses that are more or less severe. Some may not be able to control the emotions they feel, but can control their responses. Others may not be able to control either, causing them to react impulsively. In the most severe cases, people may not be able to do certain things or be in specific environments.
There is research that shows that misophonia can affect anyone, but it seems to be more common in women. Estimates on how it affects people based on sex vary, ranging from 55%-83% of cases happening in women.
Misophonia can develop at any age. However, research indicates that it is most likely to develop in the early teenage years.
More research is necessary to determine if other factors can affect who is most likely to develop misophonia, but available research indicates misophonia may affect approximately one in five people during their lifetime.
Experts aren’t sure what causes misophonia. However, they suspect it may be a combination of factors, including:
· Brain structure differences
· Other conditions such as neurodivergence, mental health conditions, and hearing-related conditions or symptoms
· Family history or genetics
The American Psychiatric Association hasn’t recognized misophonia in the fifth and most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), yet. However, in 2022, an expert committee created a consensus definition for research, diagnosis, and treatment purposes.
A healthcare provider can recognize the most common features of misophonia by asking questions about what you experience. Based on your answers, they can tell you if you seem to have the condition. However, that is not the same as a formal diagnosis.
Although misophonia isn’t an officially recognized condition, that doesn’t mean its effects are untreatable. The similarities and links between misophonia and other conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), indicate that people with this condition may benefit from various forms of mental health therapy.
While mental health therapies can’t cure a condition such as misophonia, they can help with the following:
· Identifying triggers
· Finding ways to minimize or prevent trigger sounds
· Developing coping strategies and techniques to avoid impulsive reactions to trigger sounds
· Reducing sensitivity to existing triggers
Treatments for misophonia-related conditions, such as anxiety or OCD, can also help with misophonia symptoms. A healthcare provider is the best person to tell you if treating related conditions can help and what treatments they recommend.
Many people with sound sensitivity conditions, including misophonia, can adapt to or manage this condition using common items, technology, or adaptation techniques, including:
· Earplugs or noise-canceling headphones/earbuds
· Listening to something to keep the brain’s hearing-related processes focused on something other than listening for a trigger sound
· Noise generator sounds, especially white, pink, or brown noise sounds
If you need the assistance and support of a mental health professional at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-206-5575 to schedule an appointment.
All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.