Anyone out there suffer from Misophonia? Is there a cure?

Question

In the past few years I've developed a condition called Misophonia. Meaning I become literally enraged when I hear certain noises. My trigger noises included people chewing/smacking their lips, coughing, clearing their throat, sniffling (that's a major one) and heavy breathing/ snoring. Theirs a difference between misophonia and simply "not liking noises like nails on a chalk board". When I hear these sounds, I get angry AT the person making the noise! When I eat dinner with my family, I have to wear ear plugs. My parents think I'm "making it up". No. I'm not. My friend also has it too. My mom said she was going to get me a therapist, the therapist pretty much thought my "condition" was bull. So much for that. I really don't know what to do! It's things like sitting in class taking a test, and theirs that one kid who WON'T STOP SNIFFLING! I HAVE to get up and go to the bathroom because it's absolutely unbearable. I can't sleepover with friends anymore because if they snore, I don't sleep and I get extremely mad at them. Is there ANYTHING I can do to be able to deal with hearing these sounds? It's really hard making it through the day without getting stressed out, knowing I'm going to hear the noises, and I WILL get mad :/

Answer 1

Yep, you're not alone in your suffering. There was one time this one particular cough of someone in the same area would make me so mad. All I could do was take a walk or put earplugs in. ("Excuse me, may I offer you some COUGH SUPPRESSANT???") My wife was eating a banana earlier today and the "soft chewing" got me. The worst is muffled music (from the other room, or outside), or people talking outside my window, or I hear a dogs barking, I start getting angry. Perhaps enraged is more like it.



I've tried some self-reflection to see if I'm just being "overly sensitive", and all I can come up with is "there's no reason for me to be angry, that noise is just triggering an automatic response", kind of like getting cut triggers pain. It's automatic. It's not a response that can be controlled (that we know of).



For me, putting in earplugs, or wearing headphones and playing white noise at a low volume helps sometimes. (Or even ear buds with white noise, and lawnmower hearing earmuffs over it. Sometimes it comes to that.)



I will tell you what doesn't work: tranquilizers. You'd think that taking them would keep you calm, but no, you're just really relaxed and then pissed off when you hear your trigger noise again.

Answer 2

Cure For Misophonia

Answer 3

Misophonia Cure

Answer 4

Hi Cassey



You are NOT alone. The things you describe I and many others do suffer. I'd recommend checking out some of the support groups.



http://www.misophonia-uk.org/

http://misophonia.meetup.com/

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Soundsensitivity/



these two are phenominal resources.....So many people to relate to exactly what your feeling, you don't have to feel that you're alone.



Here's a case of HOPE

http://healthmad.com/mental-health/misophonia-and-little-brown-birds-how-i-conquered-noise-sensitivity/5/



Show your parents and friends this video to help describe how you feel inside. Let them know this is a disorder and it's not something you can just "prevent" or "ignore"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlWHLx9PTE4



There are definitely things to do that can help. St. Johns Wart is a natural supplement that has helped ease the severeness of the triggers for me, others visit doctors and get more intense medication, Utilize earplugs and headphones in moderation but for severe circumstances...



Educate yourself from the info on these other sites so you can explain better to any professional doctors/Psychiatrists/Parents. Print out some of these write ups on other sites, how others are feeling....show your therapist & parents that this is real.

Answer 5

Damn that's rough I don't have misophonia but I used to know some people that did. Misophonia is very rare and little understood. Have you told your friend you have it? Try explaining what she's doing to you. Knowing my friend that didn't work for him. A lot of people didnt believe him so he stopped telling people bout it. If you try explaining your condition to your friend maybe she'll be more careful about her sounds and you guys can continue being friends. Best of luck!

Answer 6

IM SUFFERING TOO! Im really stressed about that and there s no one understanding how much it s hard! sometimes I think about how beautiful it is to be deaf. DYING INSIDE.