Misophonia – a disorder triggered by sounds
Has a sound ever bothered you? When someone chews on candy do you get triggered? Does the sound of your parent aggressively typing on their computer ever set you off? Has the clicking of a pen ever insanely irritated you?
Well, there’s an answer to your displeasure with certain sounds – it’s a condition called misophonia. Although self-diagnosable, this disorder cannot be considered subservient to any other mental health disorder. First named as a condition in 2001, this term traces its origin back to a Greek term meaning “hatred for sounds”. While you may not despise sounds, this condition can cause a flight or fight response that can interfere with a person’s daily working.
Although all of this is just caused by basic sounds like chewing, tapping of a pencil, clicking of a mouse or water dripping, the effects can be extremely severe. This disorder can then further lead to anxiety, depression or uncontrollable rage.
While researchers are still ambivalent as to what causes the condition, some have linked it to other conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorders, anxiety disorders or Tourette syndrome.
People can develop misophonia at any age, but typically, people start showing symptoms in their late childhood or early teenage years.
Studies have identified the following responses as symptomatic of this selective sound sensitivity syndrome:
- Irritation turned to anger
- Taking evasive action around people making trigger sounds
- Increase in body temperature and blood pressure
- Making vicious threats to the person causing the trigger sounds
Although there isn’t an exact cure for the condition, some tips for managing it include:
- Wearing headphones and playing your favourite music.
- Cognitive behavioural therapy
- Self-care (it includes physical exercise and improved sleep habits)
- Talking to a friend or a family member about your condition in a composed manner
Now, the next time you hear a sound that makes you want to rip your hair out and scream, go to an undisturbed place and read up on misophonia.
“It’s like a tsunami of negative responses” Dr Marsha Johnson, an experienced audiologist said. “It’s instant, it’s huge and it takes over most of their cognitive functioning.”