Fingernails tapping on the keyboard.
That kid in the classroom clicking his ballpoint pen.
The sound of a loved one breathing or chewing loudly near you…
Sounds, for some, which can be mildly annoying but for people with misophonia these everyday sounds can cause intense emotional reactions - ranging from irritation, anxiety or anger, to full blown panic attacks.
What is misophonia?
The term misophonia was first coined in 2001 by Jastreboff and Jastreboff. It comes from the Greek words misos (meaning hate) and phónè (meaning voice), and together mean ‘hatred of sound.’
According to research from Silia Vitoratou from King’s College around 18% of the UK general population may have misophonia.
Because misophonia isn’t a term that many people are aware of, sufferers can often be labelled as “being picky” or “overly sensitive.” However, it is much more than a dislike for certain sounds; it’s a genuine neurological condition that triggers intense emotional reactions in response to specific auditory stimuli and has a profound impact on daily life.
Common misophonia trigger sounds can include:
Those related to eating - such as chewing, swallowing, slurping and eating with your mouth open.
Breathing sounds - such as sniffling, coughing, nose blowing, heavy breathing or snoring.
Repetitive sounds - such as tapping, typing, clock ticking, footsteps or mechanical humming.
Other sounds - these may include the sounds of plumbing, rustling, pet sounds (e.g. barking or licking) and even certain sounds that are made when an individual is speaking.
I’m sure there are sounds in the list above which annoy the average person - I’ll be the first to admit that when I was under intense pressure while teaching, sniffly noses and incessant pen clicking would get right under my skin.
And I’m sure we’ve all had stressful periods in our life where our partner’s breathing or snoring has irritated us no end (not just me surely?!)...
But for someone with misophonia their response isn’t a simple annoyance but rather an intense (often uncontrollable) reaction that seriously impacts their quality of life.
The emotional impact of misophonia
When exposed to trigger sounds many sufferers get feelings of panic, anxiety, frustration and even rage.
When I've worked with clients with misophonia they often describe having a fight-or-flight response when they hear certain trigger sounds.
That is, their heart races, they have heightened alertness, may get sweaty and lightheaded and experience intense discomfort. They may feel an urge to escape the environment they are in (the flight pathway) or confront the source of the sound (fight pathway) in an irrational manner such as intense irritation and anger.
Having misophonia can have a huge impact on daily life and interactions. For example, eating with others, working in a shared space and even going out in public can become highly stressful experiences.
I couldn’t sit with my family at mealtimes because of the chewing and the loud sound of cutlery scrapping on plates. I knew it was my problem when I found myself enrage at the noise that my 6 month old was making while feeding and even the sound of my own chewing was enough to put me off my food . It just became so overwhelming that I resulted to eating on my own in my bedroom or sometimes skipping meals particularly in stressful situations. - JT, 37, from Romford
Another major challenge in dealing with misophonia is the lack of awareness around the condition. Friends, family members and colleagues might not understand the depth of the emotional response, often interpreting it as an overreaction.
This can lead to strained personal relationships and limited social interactions, as well as feelings of isolation and withdrawal as sufferers may avoid social settings where triggers are common.
An analogy that I share in my practice to explain to family members or teachers what it is like having misophonia is this:
"Imagine that the brain is like a house with an alarm. When an intruder enters the house, the alarm goes off and alerts you – that’s a good thing because it is keeping you and your house safe from danger. However, when you have misophonia, the alarm is constantly going off - it goes off when the postman delivers post, a bird flies past or a leaf brushes against the window. Each time the alarm goes off, it causes high levels of stress - even when you know it's a false alarm. The alarm is so noisy and goes off at all hours of the day, causing panic and anxiety. It can't be shut off and sometimes the only way to cope with the alarm is to run away."
What causes misophonia?
According to research published in Frontiers in Psychology, misophonia typically begins in childhood or early adolescence, although it can appear later in life. The exact cause of misophonia is not well understood as the research is still only in its infancy.
There is research to suggest that it may involve a combination of neurological, genetic and psychological factors. Potential causes and contributing factors that have been put forward include:
Neurological pathways: Abnormal connections between the auditory and limbic systems in the brain may play a role in triggering emotional responses.
Genetic predispositions: There may be a hereditary component, as misophonia often appears to run in families.
Psychological factors: Stress and anxiety can exacerbate symptoms, making certain sounds more difficult to tolerate.
However, recent research has suggested that misophonia shares a significant genetic overlap with psychiatric disorders, particularly anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorders.
Is there a connection between ADHD, autism and misophonia?
Although individuals with ADHD and/or autism frequently have a hypersensitivity to environmental stimuli (including sights, smells and sounds), there is currently no conclusive evidence to support a direct correlation.
There’s still a long way to go in understanding misophonia’s underlying causes but the good news is that more attention is being given to this area of research .
Managing Misophonia
While there is currently no cure for misophonia, various strategies can help to manage the symptoms and improve quality of life.
Some effective approaches include:
Sound masking
Using white noise machines or wearing noise-canceling headphones can help mask trigger sounds in shared environments, offering some relief for people who struggle with everyday sounds.
Mindfulness and relaxation techniques
Practicing mindfulness and relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing exercises or meditation. These techniques help to reduce the stress and anxiety associated with misophonia and can aid in fostering a calmer, more resilient response to triggers.
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy
Solution Focused hypnotherapy is emerging as a helpful therapeutic approach for managing the intense emotional responses associated with misophonia.
It is rooted in current neuroscience and combines the use of hypnosis and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, which creates a framework that helps individuals achieve their goals without dwelling on past trauma or triggers. Unlike traditional therapy models, the solution focused approach guides you towards finding solutions to specific issues by visualising positive outcomes and developing practical strategies to achieve them.
How Solution Focused Hypnotherapy works for misophonia
For those with misophonia, Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can support emotional regulation to lower stress and anxiety, reduce trigger sensitivity and ultimately improve quality of life.
As mentioned above, people with misophonia experience automatic fight-or-flight responses when exposed to specific trigger sounds. Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can help by breaking down this automatic reaction and enable the brain to process these sounds with less emotional intensity.
It can also help address some of the main challenges associated with misophonia by:
Reducing emotional reactivity
This is done by using visualisation techniques to help you imagine responding in a calmer manner when you are in an environment where you may be exposed to triggering sounds. By creating and mentally rehearsing these scenarios your brain starts to associate what would have previously been a stressful scenario with a calmer, composed state.
Promoting relaxation and self-regulation
The use of hypnosis in sessions helps induce a state of relaxation, allowing you access to your subconscious mind (which is the driving force behind up to 95% of your behaviours, thoughts and feelings) to develop better control over your responses. (To learn more about how hypnosis is used and what it is click here.)
I also give all my clients a self-hypnosis audio to listen to in between sessions so those relaxed feelings can continue at home. By practicing relaxation techniques in the sessions and at home, you can create a toolkit of calming strategies that are effective in triggering situations.
Rewiring negative associations
Our brain is considered ‘neuroplastic.' This means that the brain has the ability to change and reorganise itself throughout our lifetime.
Hypnotherapy works with the brain’s neuroplasticity, helping to reshape neural pathways that have been conditioned to react strongly to certain sounds. Combining visualisation, calming techiniques and hypnosis enables your subconscious to become open to change and thus creating an opportunity to rewire these negative trigger associations and diminish their emotional impact.
Understanding how the brain works
In sessions, I share knowledge about how the brain works and the neurological basis for misophonia. This doesn’t necessarily “fix” the condition (as we know, there currently is not a cure for misophonia) but it does offer valuable insights that can lead to greater self-acceptance and control.
Increasing focus on desired outcomes:
Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of misophonia, Solution Focused Hypnotherapy encourages and helps you to focus on how you want to feel and respond. This emphasis on positive outcomes creates a mindset shift that makes you less vulnerable to stress and better able to control your emotional state in the long term.
Improving sleep
Sleep plays a huge role in our emotional regulation and processing (read all about the importance of sleep in my previous blog here). The anxiety and arousal created throughout the day and the triggering noises at bedtime can disturb a misophonia sufferer's ability to sleep. Part of the work that we do in sessions is to help you get a restful night's sleep by reducing stress and anxiety so that you awake feeling more refreshed and better able to cope with triggers.
Benefits of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is designed to be a brief, solution-oriented therapy, which means many of my clients can see progress in a relatively short period of time compared to other therapies. By focusing on self-regulation and positive outcomes, my goal is to equip my clients with a toolkit that they can use beyond therapy sessions. This includes mental strategies for calming yourself in real-time and helping improve your overall resilience to triggers.
Living with misophonia can be challenging, but with the right strategies and support, it’s possible to regain better control over your responses and live a happier life.
If you’re ready to explore practical ways to manage your misophonia and reclaim more control in your surroundings, I’m here to help.
Get in touch to book a free, no-obligation telephone call where we can discuss your experiences and explore how Solution Focused can help.
Testimonial from a previous client:
I have suffered with misophonia since around the age of 6 and the symptoms have become so bad over the years that I actively avoided being around people. Nicole came highly recommended by a family member and I felt greatly at ease even after our initial conversation. She helped me better understand that when I am stressed and run down that my misophonia gets noiser. I noticed around 6 sessions in that I wasn’t being triggered by some of the things that I had been before. I found that I was actually able to enjoy food and even managed to sit around the dinner table with family. I will continue to have maintenance sessions with Nicole to stop my stress bucket from filling up but I certainly feel more equipped to manage my misophonia. - LH, 43, from Dunmow, Essex
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