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MISO-BUSTER: Myth Vs Reality- Setting the Record Straight

With so many misconceptions about misophonia I decided to put together a list of preconceived theories for people who are not familiar with the disorder.

MYTH Misophonia means you hate sound

REALITY

While hatred of sound is the literal definition, misophonia sufferes are negatively impacted by certain trigger sounds, which leads to adverse reactions such as a fight or flight response. A more accurate definition is being tortured by sound.

MYTH It’s not a big deal. Just ignore it

REALITY

It IS a big deal. A misophonia sufferer cannot tune out trigger sounds or ignore them. In fact, quite the opposite is true. Our ears tend to zone in on the trigger sound, blocking everything else out. Trust me, if we could ignore it, we would.

MYTH Misophonia? Oh, isn’t that when you get annoyed at people chewing?

REALITY

While most misophonia sufferers find chewing/mouth sounds to be the most common triggers, there are so many other sounds that also affect the misophonia sufferer. These include tapping, other repetitive sounds, clicking, sniffling, breathing, etc. The list of trigger sounds is endless.

MYTH Oh, I hate that sound. I must have misophonia too.

REALITY

There is a vast difference between hating something and being triggered. You can hate broccoli, but you can avoid it. If it is on your plate you can dump it into the trash. Being triggered brings on intense and raging emotions. If you are triggered by a sound, the ONLY thing you can think about is how to make it stop and go away. Often, you cannot make it go away, and it may continue to echo in your head as the day goes on.

Hating certain sounds can be common, such as nails on a chalkboard or snoring. They annoy you; you do not like them, but you are able to get past them.

When you have Misophonia, you can’t. You feel hate, rage, you may want to hurt someone, and/or you may want to hurt yourself just from hearing one little sound that no one else seems to notice. Sometimes, you become so triggered you experience a meltdown. (Sometimes you feel so emotionally overwhelmed by unpleasant feelings that you can no longer control them or hide them from others.)

MYTH Take a pill and you will be all better.

REALITY

It would be nice if there was a magic pill that could help. However, there is currently no medication for misophonia. While some sufferers find some relief to their reactions by taking anxiety medication, anxiety medications are not intended for misophonia.

MYTH Just keep listening to the sound and you will get used to it.

REALITY

NOT TRUE! The more you hear a sound, the more of a trigger it will become. Exposure makes the triggers worse. Think of a swimming pool: when you jump in the water, it’s freezing. A while later you get used to it. Translating that water into sound, the water gets colder and colder until it is freezing. Similarly, if you can imagine being in a dark room, and then walking outside to a bright sunny day, you immediately shut your eyes as they begin to adapt to the change in brightness. With Misophonia, if you think of the sun as the sound, it gets brighter and brighter; literally blinding you.

MYTH Seriously? You cannot possibly hear that little noise.

REALITY

People with misophonia have exceptional hearing. Our sense of hearing is hyper sensitive and we can hear certain sounds that most people cannot. For many of us, our hearing is so sharp that sounds are often amplified. One sufferer during a visit to an acupuncturist heard the needle drop. We really are that sensitive to sound.

MYTH You used to get upset when I was chewing, and now you’re triggered because I clicked my pen?

REALITY

Triggers have a way of growing. Like a cell, you have one trigger, and as time passes you develop additional triggers. And that cell will grow into a giant misophonia monster.

MYTH Katie has misophonia and chewing is not a trigger for her. Why does it bother you?

REALITY

We are all different, individual people. Therefore, we all have different triggers.

MYTH When Tommy is triggered, he puts on his headphones and he is fine. He doesn’t freak out.

REALITY

Just as we all have different triggers, our coping mechanisms are also different. White noise is often recommended for a sufferers. For me, white noise IS a trigger. Some people find yoga or exercise helpful, and others prefer absolute solitude. We are like snowflakes; we are all different. What works for one of us does not work for all of us. Misophonia is not “one size fits all.”

MYTH You heard that crunching an hour ago. Get over it! Yesterday when you heard that sound, you didn’t go ballistic.

REALITY

Depending on your general state of mind, and the intensity of your trigger, bouncing back from a trigger is not instantaneous. For many sufferers, the reaction can last an extended period of time. We would love nothing more than to get over it and go on with our day.

Our triggers are our triggers. We cannot change them, but our reactions to those triggers CAN change. One day a trigger might send me into a rage, the next day the same trigger may upset me. But I can refrain from anything further. Another day, I just might break down into tears. That is the strange thing about misophonia. It is very unpredictable.

MYTH Do you really have to start yelling and throwing things? For crying out loud, I was just chewing a piece of gum.

REALITY

Yes, I do have to start yelling or throwing things. I don’t mean to. That is just my natural reaction to the trigger sound. I do not want to react, but sometimes I will just lash out without thought.

MYTH You must really hate me. You are always so grumpy around me.

REALITY

No, I do not hate you. At all. But the sounds that you make trigger me, and it is difficult to be around you. It is not YOU, it is the sounds. Please do not take it personally.

MYTH If the doctor doesn’t diagnose you with misophonia, it cannot be real

REALITY

Not true! There are very few medical professionals who are familiar with misophonia. Honestly, it’s like finding a needle in a haystack. Most sufferers are self diagnosed. Many do require special accommodations for work or school and will require medical documentation, some people even get misdiagnosis and need to suffer consequences and other treatments they don’t need and end up recurring to sites as www.the-medical-negligence-experts.co.uk to repair these damages. In that case, consult the audiology department at the hospitals. Screen the provider to make sure they do know about misophonia so you don’t waste your time.

QUESTION Is there anything I can do to help you?

ANSWER

Yes. The most important thing you can do is offer me your support and understanding. Understand that if I walk out of a room, I need to escape for solitude. I need to get away from whatever is triggering me. Listen to me when I tell you my triggers and how they make me feel. Understand that I have no control over what triggers me, and if I need to step away from the dinner table, it is not because I am not enjoying your company. I just can’t handle the trigger sounds.

Learn about misophonia, and help spread awareness.

August 8, 2017 3 comments

Info Research

Misophonia Classification

written by Admin

Misophonia classification is not necessarily an easy topic. This is particularly not easy because research for the disorder is still in its infancy. However, there may be classifications that are more or less likely based on the current research, and the proposed directions for the disorder.

It is important to note that the way researchers and doctors look at the brain is ever-evolving. Classification of disorders is becoming, as time moves on, less factored on specific labels and more focused on all aspects of the body. Many conditions can have a psychological and physiological component, as well as characteristics that would suit either a neurological or psychiatric condition. It has also been asked as to whether misophonia is genetic or a mental illness. These questions are answered in greater length on their pages.

A recent misophonia study by Dr. Sukhbinder Kumar has made waves in regard to questions about misophonia classification. Because of research like this, we are ever-closer to solving the debate of “whereever in the brain” this condition is. Though the study does not specifically aim to classify the condition, it does prove that research is moving forward, and that answers are just around the corner.

Dr. Zachary Rosenthal of the Duke University Sensory Processing and Regulation Program explains why categorizing misophonia has been challenging.

“Disorders and syndromes characterized by emotional responses are sometimes said to be “brain-based.” This is sometimes confusing to people, but the basic idea is that emotions include biological, behavioral, and cognitive responses to stimuli, and these responses all require brain systems. Other brain-based systems related to emotion also are probably involved in misophonia. For example, trigger sounds are sensory-based cues associated with a prior learning history that are attended to over other sounds and elicit emotional responses that include both behavior and cognition. This means misophonia may be a brain-based condition that involves neural systems that govern our sensation, perception, attention, memory, learning, cognition, behavior and emotion. That is a lot of complexity, and that is why we need much more science done to shed light on the nature of misophonia.”

Official misophonia classification will depend upon science that simply does not exist yet. While there is interesting theory as to why the disorder is neurological, there is no concrete classification as of yet. Furthermore, the program at Duke concludes:

“There are less than 20 studies that directly evaluate Misophonia.
Much of the existing research has not interpreted individual findings on Misophonia to important and related basic and applied research across disciplines. As such, we believe a more comprehensive approach to the study of Misophonia is needed that includes researchers, methods, and measures used across fields (e.g., occupational therapy, audiology, neurology, psychiatry, psychology, cognitive neuroscience, neurobiology). A multi-disciplinary approach to research on Misophonia has the promise to offer insights about the causes and treatments for this condition.”

If a person or organization claims that misophonia is 100% anything, there is reason to be skeptical. Our best cause for answers going forward is to support the facilitation of research.

March 22, 2017 0 comment

Awareness Helpful Info Info

Is Misophonia Psychological?

written by Admin

Many persons ask the question, “Is Misophonia psychological?”

While the answer to this question is largely based on a small body of research, the answer is none-the-less important . This question is particularly challenging not because of misophonia, but because of the ever-changing field of research and theory. In modern times it has become increasingly difficult to categorize disorders in this way because disorders overlap, and exact cause often remains unknown. This, of course, adds to the confusion.

While a research paper has declared misophonia a psychiatric disorder, there is perhaps little evidence to support this claim. While the paper asserts that Misophonia is not only psychiatric, but related to OCD, little more is offered than a case study of 2 children. Furthermore, findings were self-reported and small scale. Dr. Jennifer Jo Brout explains the limitations of the study.

“[A]s limitations to their study, the authors note that most study participants were female and that only self-report measures were used. However, in a case study of two children, the researchers report that Misophonia appears to be a psychiatric disorder that is highly correlated with OCD. In addition, due to accommodations parents have made so that children may avoid “trigger sounds” at home, trigger sounds may have in fact worsened. That is, lack of exposure to these particular noises have worsened the severity of the response. In general, the OCD researcher/clinicians agree that patients would benefit from by re-conditioning therapy similar to that of the Jastreboff’s.”

But, aside from this research, is misophonia psychological?

Compelling evidence has arisen that points misophonia in a different direction. Instead of psychological, the condition may in-fact be neurological. Not only this, it takes part in the center of the brain that regulates fear, the limbic system. As explorations continue, it seems less likely that misophonia is merely a psychological predicament. However, this does not mean that a cross-disciplinary approach will not be beneficial for the eventual treatment of the disorder.

Miren Edelstein, researcher and author of, “Misophonia: physiological investigations and case descriptions” advocates for better communication in the research world, particularly for brain conditions.

“I think it would be extremely beneficial to have neuroscientists and audiologists, as well as clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, and physicians, all collaborating together to conduct Misophonia research. Right now, a major problem for Misophonia research that needs to be addressed is the lack of communication between various fields of study. Researchers from different disciplines all have unique and valuable perspectives on the topic, but this information is not being communicated in an effective manner across groups. I believe that an interdisciplinary research environment, while simultaneously promoting a more unified dissemination of knowledge, will be the most effective at fostering breakthroughs in the field.”

The complexity of misophonia is important. While the disorder does some psychological symptoms it does not entirely pertain to psychological processes, “In addition to reporting psychological symptoms, all of our misophonics reported physical symptoms synonymous with autonomic arousal in response to trigger sounds.” (Edelstein)

While an exact answer on whether or not misophonia is psychological is not yet possible, there is great cause for concern when the condition is absent-mindlessly labelled as psychological.

March 22, 2017 0 comment

Info Mental Health Research

Is Misophonia Mental Illness?

written by Admin

Is Misophonia Mental Illness? What are the facts and theories?

The important question to ask when determining the misophonia mental illness debate is to define, at least quickly, what a mental illness is, because a lot of people are unsure what constitutes mental illness. There is a general consensus within the medical and advocacy communities that mental illnesses are psychiatric and psychological in nature. According to the American Psychiatric Association, mental illness:

refers collectively to all diagnosable mental disorders — health conditions involving
Significant changes in thinking, emotion and/or behavior
Distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities

Why is there confusion as to whether misophonia is psychiatric?

Misophonia is probably not psychiatric and “psychiatry has a way of coopting medical/neurological conditions that are not easily explained. Physicians are often complicit in this victim-blaming process. For those of you who are unfamiliar with one of the worst disorder classification faux pas, allow me to introduce you Autism…formerly known as the Refrigerator Mothering Disorder” (Dr. Brout) When research isn’t conducted to properly find what causes a condition, psychiatry can be quick to slap a label on the condition. In her article in the NY Observer, Dr. Jennifer Brout discusses her conversation which psychiatrists that were ‘hell-bent’ on labeling, diagnosing, and essentially “treating” misophonia.

“I asked the author of many of these studies why he and his colleagues were doing therapy for misophonia when there was absolutely no consensus as to what the disorder was (and when none of their therapies had been trialed). During his transparent explanation, he slipped up and referred to misophonia sufferers as potential “consumers”.”

So, does this mean misophonia is not a mental illness?

Misophonia is most likely to be neurological, but this does not mean that it is not a mental illness. Some researchers have begun to tip the tradional theory of “illness” upside down. There are emerging ideas and evidence that support a new definition of mental illness. While not a mental illness as stricly defined by iron-clad definitions, in the future there may be a thinner line between disorders that have origins in the brain. An academic paper from 2015 talks about this changing perception.

“The results may be taken as a slap in the face to the distinction-abolitionists, yet such individuals might take heart in them in that there is no implicit hierarchy in what emerges as the brain-based hallmark of neurological versus psychiatric conditions; they both involve the functionally interesting parts of the brain, it is just that they are, quite subtly, different.”

While confusing to some, this has positive implications for the world of research. Under a paradigm that strips away the strictly worded diagnostics codes of the DSM-5 treatment and research can move past set expectations and work-together for cross-disiplinary approaches. The IMRN has advocated for this approach of research. Whether or not misophonia is a mental illness depends upon who you ask. Its basic components are in the brain, more specifically the limbic system. As classifications of disorders continue to change, we may find the definition of mental illness itself will be put into question. However, for now, misophonia is not a mental illness in the sense that it is a diagnosable mental disorder, in-fact, sufferers may have trouble obtaining a misophonia diagnosis.

March 21, 2017 0 comment

Info Research

Is Misophonia Neurological?

written by Admin

Many people have wondered, is misophonia neurological? Classifications of disorders are usually based upon their underlying causes. Thus, if a disorder is caused by a neurological problem, we would say it is a “neurological” disorder.

However, in modern times it has become increasingly difficult to categorize disorders in this way because disorders overlap, and causality is often unknown. This, of course, adds to the confusion.

Neuroscientist Joseph E. LeDoux has been studying the implications of auditory over-responsivity in the part of the brain called the amygdala. The amygdala plays an important role in the body’s fight/flight/freeze processes. It is because of the nature of the amygdala and the limbic system that misophonia is most-likely neurological in origin.

The amygdala is also involved with memory. In terms of misophonia, regardless of whether or not one is born with the disorder individuals make memories in which the body’s fight/flight response is associated with particular sounds. In addition, some of us may be born with a higher arousal system, or may simply be more sensitive to auditory stimuli. Therefore, some of us may be more vulnerable to forming these memories. The perception of memory offers reasonable theories as to why cognitive therapies such as CBT have shown little progress for misophonia, and have been said to make the disorder worse. Dr. LeDoux is working on whether or not memory reconsolidation therapy can have an impact on persons with misophonia. This research is particularly interesting because it is widely innovative in regard to approaches for misophonia.

Edelstein, Brang, Rouw, and Ramachandran (2013) found some similarities between Synesthesia and Misophonia. Edelstein et al. proposed that misophonia “displays similarities” to synesthesia. Edelstein et al. used both self-report (qualitative interviews) and physiologic measures (Skin Conductance Response, or SCR) to characterize aversive reactivity in Misophonia:

“The underlying neurological cause of this condition may be similar to that of synesthesia in terms of enhanced connectivity between relevant brain regions. In short, a pathological distortion of connections between the auditory cortex and limbic structures could cause a form of sound-emotion synesthesia.” (Edelstein et al., 2013).

The authors note that limitations of the study include small sample size, a lack of screening for psychiatric or psychological problems (no measures of mental health disorders were included), and that SCR measures autonomic arousal, but does not describe the nature of the emotion associated with that autonomic arousal.

As you may have noted, the synesthesia research is applicable to Misophonia as it directly addresses the aberrant brain connectivity that the Jastreboff’s originally conceived of.

While synesthesia research does not directly translate into treatment, it can certainly further our understanding of the disorder and therefore inform treatment. There are a few more synesthesia research studies underway and it will be interesting to find out results.

March 21, 2017 0 comment

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