Misophonia, Phonophobia, and Hyperacusis: Auditory Sensitivity and Mental Health
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- Опубліковано 22 чер 2024
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Thanks to Dr. Lindsey Tubaugh for teaching me about treatment for sound sensitivities, you can find her online program here: littleheroeshearingclinic.com/
There are at least three different types of sound sensitivities, and this matters because sound sensitivities sometimes co-occur with other mental health conditions like OCD, Autism, Anxiety, Trauma and Sensory Processing Disorders. If you get really angry about certain noises, that’s misophonia, if you get really anxious or scared around certain sounds, that’s phonophobia, and if everyday normal sounds are painfully loud, that’s hyperacusis.
So let’s start with hyperacusis. Hyperacusis is when you perceive sounds as being louder than they objectively are. Everyday sounds seem louder than they should. 47% of people with hyperacusis also have anxiety.
Auditory sensitivity can occur on a spectrum, where hyperacuity may be on the more severe end of the spectrum, and a dislike of loud noises can be on the less severe side of the spectrum. Auditory sensitivity can also be associated with sensory differences with autism, and it can stand alone- it can just be that you have really sensitive ears.
Now, let’s talk about Misophonia, misophonia is when specific sounds trigger an intense reaction- usually anger but it can also be irritation, rage, anxiety and disgust. The most common triggers are repetitive sounds like chewing, breathing, lip smacking or tapping.
Like hyperacusis, Misophonia is not a recognized disorder in the DSM 5, and research is just beginning to understand the causes and treatment. There are some early studies indicating that there are brain differences in people with misophonia and there’s heightened response to sounds in the brain. Misophonia commonly occurs with other disorders including Anxiety, OCPD, ASD, and Sensory Processing Disorder.
Phonophobia is an intense fear reaction to certain sounds. Like other phobias, it can be connected to anxiety disorders or a history of trauma, but it can also stand alone.
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• Escaping the Hidden Pr...
• Autism and Sound Sensi...
00:00 - Intro to sound sensitivity and noise sensitivity
2:27 - Hyperacusis
3:49 - Misophonia
5:01 - Phonophobia
6:43 - Treatment options
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It is so calming to find that others have the same dislike to noise as I do. It already makes me feel better that I am not alone.
I have issues with alarms and beeps and loud sounds. Mine started as auditory damages to the ear but developed into misophonia later, particularly after a specific work environment in which alarms and bells were consistently going off on a regular basis, sometimes nonstop due to faulty fixtures that would be left for days before finally being repaired. And since I used music in that work environment to counter those sounds and the toxic workplace in general, when I finally left, and I mean I walked off the job and had them mail me my last paycheck because I refused to go back, I had a long period of a couple years now in which I couldn't even listen to that without issue.
Learning what I have about sound sensitivities and having to look back and reflect on the causes I've come to realize the damage toxic environments can cause a person internally. That work place I spoke of didn't just increase my auditory sensitivities but also had a dramatic impact on my food aversions. These are both things that get talked about so much less in terms of anyone dealing with anxiety or who may be ND. I was called a picky eater for it all my life. It wasn't until 2013 they finally gave a more accurate name to what I'd always suffered which is ARFID. That's an episode I'd actually be interested in watching as well.
It’s not a dislike. Everyone has sounds they dislike. Misophonia is a strong aversion to particular sounds or repetitive sounds. The body feels like it fills with rage and wants to release it via violence
@@Hey_Jamie the word dislike still accurately describes what is happening for some folks. Each person experiencing their own instances of such things should be allowed to express it how they seem fit. For the OP it is a dislike. The point of their post wasn't to quip over semantics but rather to point out how they now feel less alone now knowing what to call it and that others have these same experiences regardless of how they choose to express their vocabulary towards it. Calling these aversions a dislike isn't wrong or bad. I dislike having these aversions very much personally.
This has absolutely ruined my entire life F.Q.A.D., 😞 THE information is on the F.D.A. WEBSITE......
I can’t even stand to hear myself eat.
I’ve discovered I have misophonia. I live with a family that slams doors, cabinets, yells, smacks their food, and walks very heavy. Hearing these things make me VERY angry. I attempted to block it out with headphones, but it does make it worse. The anxiety and rage is so exhausting, it’s stressing me out. Until I move out, I’ll practice these things going forward. It will help in life in general. Thank you. 🤗
you are not alone
@@Debo6778 I rlly appreciate that confirmation. I hope these techniques help you out too.
I ran away
I got housing, neighbours ht the wall 24 7
it scked, also made my ocd more bd
Yes! Omg. I can’t stand to be with my family, not bc I don’t love and miss them, but they are just so obtrusive and noisy lol.
@@namename3139 Sorry to hear that. That’s why I think it’s important that we learn actual coping skills. We deserve to have peace.
The rage this can trigger is primal.
it can become violent rage like when someone throws a crying baby against a wall. you will do anything to make the noise stop.
@@brockbeckham5020 who t f does that lol
@@jacksonrelaxin3425yea i hate certain sounds but Jesus would never do that of course
The rage is in your head caused by a neurological disorder. Don’t condemn people for breathing
People don't understand. Event though I'm 189cm 100kg Croat & Serb & look like a warrior & train(ed) MMA, I too have fear from fighting. But when Misophonia is triggered by smacking, the hate over-shadows every other emotion. Theres nothing left in my mind but HATE. I hate to the absolute max degree, like u said primal, deep hate & anger & thoughts of violence (which many of u too have, if ur being honest - I know its difficult to admit to think about violence, "just cuz someone smacks while eating". Lately Ive began to get annoyed by my smacking, time to seek therapy ASAP!
Misophonia with depression, anxiety, and PTSD is its own hell.
Omg.. yes
Yep it is torture
I have anxiety and some times depression depending on the weather but damn misophonia is a bitch
same here ...
Me too. Fucking awful
Low, bumping bass from car stereos makes me instantly angry and feeling like my heart is going to explode…and it rattles my home :(
Me too! I always visualize that I shoot their stupid car with some sort of bazooka weapon that makes it fly up in the air like in the movies and then crash down, crushing the speakers and silencing the whole obnoxious thing!
@@annerose497 me too!!
Yes me too instant anger when the gypsy scammer across the street in a shopping center starts his music with his amp turned way up grrt
I'm in tears right now because this is the first time I've found people who relates to my situation.
At the start of Covid when we were all suppose to be in lock down, people would park their cars across from my home and just blast their music and that stupid base almost everyday from morning to night. And the police would do nothing!
I've always been sensitive to sound but this made it worse. To the point where I had to leave my home at 11pm and walk to the park just to find peace.
I felt so alone, unheard, and lost. And I almost took my own life because I tried everything to get them to stop. Now just being somewhere and hearing cars drive by with that stupid base blasting continues to trigger me.
Have literally just escaped to my room from a family dinner to have a cry and self regulate (after feeling totally overwhelmed by everyone having conversations all at once) and saw on my phone this had been recommended 😢❤ Thank you.
it may be more than misophonia Im afraid!
My mother in law is very similar though, crosstalk makes her crazy, angry, she can't watch The View or be at large dinners. I think its kinda autistic possibly.
I am the same way, it’s overwhelming, it is also rude.
@@gaywizard2000 Care to expand on that? 🤔
@@roweme which? The first comment I'll guess. Yes, I believe when people are affected by smells, sights, whatever else its more of an autism spectrum. It seems that misophonia stands apart from autism and is more linked to those who get off on ASMR . Personally I find ASMR stuff super annoying! Lol
I've had misophonia for as long as I can remember. Every morning, before school, having to listen to my sister chewing cereal, toast or anything just filled me with rage. My mother always accused me of just being hateful. It isn't bad when there is a group, like the family around the table. When my kids were, well, kids and my grandchildren were around 6, I had to explain that they were doing nothing wrong. If I got up and left the room quickly while they were eating, everything was ok, even when I had a mad look on my face. Anytime they needed reassurance that I wasn't mad at them, we talked as much as they needed. I also reinforced over and over that even though things like apples, carrots, strawberries, anything crunchy flipped a switch in my brain and made me feel furious, I didn't feel furious at them or anyone and I wanted them to eat healthy crunchy things no matter what. As they got older I would be more detailed but mostly I wanted them to understand that it wasn't a problem with their behaviour, it was just a little bad wiring in my brain. Turned out that my son has this also. Any oral sounds, phlegmy sounds, repetitive sounds like something loose and vibrating. I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket even if you put a lid on it BUT while I can't reproduce the sound, if someone is singing and the sound is even a tiny bit off, flat or sharp, I have to grit my teeth.
These sounds have never caused anxiety. I can be happy, laughing or completely relaxed but as soon as I hear the sound it is as fast as a light switch. Rage, sometimes I am desperate to flee only because I can feel the rage growing and my control slipping. As soon as the sound stops, I'm calm. Again, like flipping a switch. There's a little adrenaline residue and while I feel the effects of it, I find I don't always notice it.
It has always sort of amazed me simply because with no necessarily emotional stimulus, merely an innocuous, everyday sound can cause such rapid and extreme emotion. I would love to see this on fMRI.
Wow this is exactly how I feel. Perfect way to describe it
Same for me too.
totally agree with alll of this. no one believes me when i tell them idk wats going on, and its not ur fault i cannot stand the sound of someone chewing loudly and loosely. this inspired me. 😊
Same here, for me it was torture. They hated me for it.
I have the same feelings. you can go from being in a good mood, having a good day to it all going bad instantly when that happens. for me, two of my trigger sounds are coughing and the "ahem" sound people make (to get rid of mucous/phlegm in their throat). going to work on the train (my only option) is hell, because people are always doing it. Work is hell, because it is a dusty environment and my boss is a smoker (and doesn't wear a mask), so he does that quite often. going home on the train is the same story. going to the shops, or really anywhere in public... it's all the same story.
yesterday for me at work was a really bad day. my boss was at his usual antics, but worse. he was doing it more frequently, and more "aggressively" if that makes sense. when i went to hide in the bathroom to calm down, someone else came in and decided to go a golly in the sink (australian slang for snorting or doing anything like that to get mucous/phlegm in your throat so you can spit it out). Unfortunately, i couldn't find many excuses to leave the lab briefly to calm down. by the end of the day, i was seeing red. on the train home, it was just as bad. person behind me kept coughing, and so one or two other people.
when i left the train and picked up to get home, i felt a wave of calm go through me. i was free of having to listen to trigger sounds as often as i was that day, and i knew i would have having a long weekend with 3 days off.
As you said, all of this can happen like a flip of a switch. the condition is absolutely awful, and i would not wish it upon my worst enemy.
One of my misophonia triggers is the music played in almost all retail and foodservice settings. Took a couple years of avoiding both over the pandemic to really isolate it. Even if it's a genre of music I love, I find it really imposing when I'm trying to shop or eat.
Me too! It was so bad a couple of weeks ago at the Neighborhood Walmart that I had to put in my earplugs to be able to finish checking out. And don't get me started on those bell ringers!
I can relate to this! I got so mad one time that I actually located the speakers and turned them off at the wall! This was after I'd already complained about 5 times. I guess I need to try a different approach.
I use to work in retail horrible music can't be avoided at all. I was working at Christmas Market and wasn't bothered by live music played. It maybe something to do with tones and bass.
Yes, same here - I gave up a really good job once, because one of my colleagues insisted on having the radio playing constantly. I couldn’t bear it, tried ear plugs, asked really nicely for the radio to be turned off, but to no avail. So, I left that job. Which was a shame - it was a good job with a great company. I can’t bear music playing in retail or food environments - I can’t zone them out, and the music ends up being dominant. It makes me really irritable, and anxious.
SAME! Haha, I’m sensitive to music too so if a certain song plays it can make affect my mood as well.
It made me cry when this video started because it hits home and I can truly empathize with those who are afflicted by this. It can be debilitating for many and that needs to be recognized. I’ve had misophonia and hyperacusis since as far back as I can remember. My mom recalls my emotional breakdowns around the age of 5 when eating with my family. I would hide in a bedroom and eat alone there when everyone else was eating because I couldn’t cope with the sounds. This was early 80’s and my mom had no clue about anything relative to sound issues, mental health or the like. The gambit is vast for me and includes visual triggers as well like watching someone shake their leg or seeing someone chewing.
I came across a local audiologist who has dedicated much of her practice to helping those with these disorders. She helped me feel, for the first time in my life, like I wasn’t a complete loon because that’s been the response I’ve been met with until now.
I am in the midst of my treatment currently and it’s a slow process but there has definitely been progress. I use hearing aids during waking hours, that play a customized type of “white noise” all day. It plays at a low enough volume so I can still hear and engage in conversation. I can control the volume as well for times that I’m struggling and need my brain to be refocused away from my triggers. I do daily deep breathing exercises and daily note taking of triggers and severity.
Thank you so much for bringing awareness to these issues, validating them and sharing your knowledge!!
Best of luck to those afflicted, you aren’t alone and there is treatment 💜
Me too!!!!
Reading your comment was like reading my own story. Thank you very much for openly sharing your journey with everyone here and offering hope during recovery. Wishing you many blessings and complete wellness. 🙏💖
@@HappieBunnie Same, I could have written this exact comment myself. It's so nice to hear that other people experience the same thing, because there's so much shame around misophonia - I was labelled as 'intolerant' throughout my childhood. I use the loop ear buds with some success, but will look into the white noise hearing aids. It's amazing to think that there might be some sort of treatment / respite available.
Thanks for sharing. It's good to know I'm not alone... Having this has totally changed my life...I have been suffering w/tinnitus and hyperacusis, including serious sound anxiety for over 3 years now... I've seen a bunch of doctors but not one recommended me see an audiologist. I'm so grateful to find this video and know that there are more options...also amazed at how ignorant so many are to this, namely healthcare professionals. Currently looking into local audiologists!!
@@steflake8627 I agree. It makes me cry. It has been so trying...and I've been so alone w/it...told to get over it, treated like I'm crazy... My heart goes out to you and anyone suffering w/this...
Incessant dogs barking, eating or animal licking sounds, loud exhaust systems, the police helicopter, but most of all, near constant sirens drive me completely nuts. It's not just the sound, but the psychological awareness that there is always calamity within earshot.
kya hota h ear k ndr can you plz explain
Thanks for this-- I could have written that email myself. I am dx with autism, OCD, anxiety, PTSD, and sensory processing disorder. I have lived in rental housing the last 12 years... a different place nearly every year. Every time I get settled into a location, something happens, some person starts making a sound, and I can't tolerate it and have to leave. I lived in an apartment below a lady with a constantly barking dog; moved to a house on a hill that overlooked a freeway that got busier and busier the longer the year went on; moved to a tiny apartment surrounded by barking dogs, moved to a big house with a big yard... then neighbors on *both* sides of me got dogs and let them bark. Moved downtown... barking dog in the house diagonal to me. Moved uptown, barking dog in the unit below me, round the clock. I kindly asked that neighbor if he could please quiet his dog, 3 times, and I got a gun pulled on me.
Finally gave up and moved out of state to a tiny house in the woods... within a week, some houseless folks set up a chop shop for stolen vehicles right across the street from me. Midnight, 2am, whirring metal saws amplified by the shipping container they were hiding the op in. I moved again, to my current place, and had about 3 months of quiet... then last week, I got a new upstairs neighbor. With a Rottweiler. It sounds like I'm living under a circus explosion.
I've been BEGGING for an end to the endless noise my whole life. I wear earplugs 24/7 to the point the skin has sloughed off the insides of my ear canals. I switched to noise cancelling headphones, and it got my ear infected.
I wish the world were more mindful of noise and the concept of the "captive audience". If you're making a sound, and the people around you perceiving it do not have the opportunity to escape that sound, they are a "captive audience", and it's important to limit your effects on your neighbors. I try to be as quiet as a mouse 24/7. Most people don't even know I'm here. But it seems like no one else is paying attention in the slightest to the effect they have on others...
I can relate so much. Sending love & hope you will eventually find your peace and quiet.
I'm so sorry, it sounds awful. All I seek in my life is peace and quiet and a place to rest in it. Chinese medicine has helped me with similar issues and also my own theories on what's been wrong with me and my experience. Gotta find a way out when people are like people with their dogs and rackets, even at night!
Agree with this 100%. Why are people so oblivious to the damage they cause? My last neighbors had their ENTIRE yard wired with speakers. Long little wires all the way around it with these little speakers hidden under the bushes. Granted they were lovely people, and spent a LOT of time outside landscaping and enjoying their lovely yard - but what it meant was that I wasn’t able to enjoy mine. Didn’t have the option to work in my studio in peace without someone else dictating the music I was obligated to listen to, whether I liked it or not. Sometimes when I was out there I’d use my earbuds (which they should have as well 🤬) or sometimes I’d play a podcast on my phone, but it was so close to me there was no way anyone could hear it. Yet some people…. they are either oblivious, or don’t care, that they force their preferences on others. And the more you’re aware of it, the more you get stuck with it. And don’t even bother being assertive and talking to people about it. The ones who are this inconsiderate won’t respond rationally or respectfully.
This resonates with me - I am late diagnosed AudADHD and sensory processing is making my life hell - no matter where I live or move - no matter how quiet - then a dog will bark - an angle grinder or a scaffolder or anything - its hell
Same here. The DOGS are everywhere. I can't escape them. Bass, mufflers, Jake breaking W.T.F ??????
I’ve had chewing misophonia since I was a child. It used to make me feel angry, but now it’s more anxious frustration. Like feeling trapped.
Sound can feel very invasive. You can’t close your ears the way you can close your eyes.
It’s not just me then! I’m sensitive to lots of sounds but chewing is the worst.
We can cover our ears (and noses) but social skill police have a swift reaction to that, it's beaten out of a lot of us
Yess!! The sounds that anger me are chewing, mouth smacking, popping gum, silverware hitting the plate, and saliva in the mouth. I even hate the visual of some people eating.. Apart from eating I hate pen clicking, rapid repetitive movements. I'm 26 and I'm trying to cope with it still but it can be very consuming during times of stress.
@@toniariana3017 it’s not nice to hear that others are suffering but it is nice to hear we’re not alone in this 💓😇🙉
My stepfather is a hardcore smacker. To a degree, where other random people have told him during a family/friends gathering, while eating at the big table: XYZ, please stop smacking. Now imagine me as kid, not knowing that these feelings are not normal. Cuz ur born in ur body, all u know are ur feelings. Naturally u think thats how all feel about smacking. But no, I become hateful, pure hatred that is achieved rarely, maybe never in my life.
It over shadows every other emotion. Im Serb & Croat. Any other people with ancestors from that region? Some "races" are known to hav different "attributes". Like Yugoslavs are the tallest people on avarage & I've also met many Yugslav stutterers,
i have misophonia and it’s quite miserable at times. i get so extremely enraged or disgusted at any repetitive noises that i sometimes have to excuse myself from wherever it’s stemming from to calm myself down.
Yes indeed! It’s a living nightmare especially when you are around people. I’ve hurt my family and even strangers (not physically but with my raging behavior, disgust, extreme avoidance, etc.) which has never allow me to live in peace, I’m always feeling guilty because of how I am ☹️
Right, for instance if someone continually clicks a pen , I want to leave the room
I’m the same, it’s people repetitively sniffing. And then Covid came along …. Arrrgh
Its is literal torture.
For me it is dog barking and eating sounds 😔 such irrational anger comes up..
The day I was diagnosed with misophonia was a relief. Until then I thought I was crazy or cranky or just mean. I also am driven to a range by repetition (someone repeating themselves over and over) or repeated sounds. Sometimes while listening to NPR in the morning during morning edition, they play snipets of music as they go to break. Sometimes those songs are repetitive notes and I have to change the channel to avoid the rage
Ugh…yes the repetitive smooth jazz kills me.
I also find the repetitive music during the NPR breaks annoying and turn it off.
Rap music is absolutely the worst, followed by loud warbley women singing opera.
I hear you about commercials. So invasive; a literal auditory bombardment, making me NOT want to buy their product all the more
@@sunnyinnv I'm highly sensitive to not only sound, but also energy of people around me. I think psychologists call these sensitivies a disorder, but honestly, I think it's just that some people are more sensitive than the majority of the population. I'm not saying it can't be caused by trauma, but I think generally there are just those of us that are highly sensitive. Would they say a canary has a disorder because fumes in the coal mines can kill it when the fumes are in such small amounts it wouldn't kill a human?
There's one thing to say about noise. We didn't evolve to take in all this noise. We didn't evolve to to have so much stimulation all the time visually or auditory. I know loud sounds are jarring to my system. I don't like people having conversations all at once. My thoughts on why this is is because my brain can't process it. There's no focal point. It's a muddle of sound. I know part of the reason for my sound sensitivity is due to my traumatic childhood. If you yell at me I will completely shut down. Also I can't drown out other people's conversations. I ended up eavesdropping. I don't know which ones of these I have. I just know I'm sensitive to noise.
i agree. and i have the same with not being able to drown out other conversations so well. but it gets better when i can focus on something that makes me feel safe. so i wonder if for me it's like looking for a threat in words that could be directed against me or something.. and i've been yelled at a lot nearly daily for many years
I don't remember the last time I clicked on a video so fast after seeing the thumbnail. I self-diagnosed myself with misophonia about ten years ago when I shared an office with a coworker who would clear her throat every minute or so. I eventually asked my doctor for a note so I could wear headphones at work and drown it out. It's caused relationship strains (people don't like when I ask them to stop making certain noises), and my ex-boyfriend's open mouth chewing was a significant factor in why I ended things.
I definitely think my tinnitus has something to do with the onset of misophonia. I guess it makes sense that my brain does not want to deal with any additional annoying sounds since I'm subjected to a high-pitched ringing in my ears 24/7.
Music through a wall where you can only hear the bass sounds. Music from a party where you can only hear the bass sounds. Cars with loud music where you can only hear bass sounds. People humming. These are the banes of my life.
Wonderful video! As a musician with tinnitus and hyperacusis, I agree with all of these points. But I also want to point out that some days are better than others, and it’s ok to use noise-cancelling headphones and earplugs for times when you need a break from this loud world. For instance if you need to concentrate on your work or get a good night’s sleep, it’s imperative that you use them. Managing this condition is a daily task and there is no cure for it in my 39 years of living with it, even with the re-training that I’m constantly doing with my nervous system. Sending all who also find the world too loud some good quiet vibes 😊
67 and my Misophonia has not become any more manageable. Yikes.
easier said that done if you don't have tinnitus. if you do have tinnitus as I do using earplugs has become impossible because it actually magnifies the tinnitus. I would actually urge people to not use earplugs as much as possible that I feel that it made my tinnitus that much worse. That's the only thing from reading online that has actually rung true. unfortunately now that I have tonight is having constant exposure to sounds in my environment doesn't seem to do Jack in terms of bettering the tinnitus
I agree that some avoidance is necessary just to be able to function. If I could find a professional to help me with it, I might be able to move from avoidance, but for many, tools like headphones and white noise are essential.
I have had misophonia since I can remember and it has been a lot of learning and tolerance. I used to have almost tantrums as a teen, explosive outbursts, I self medicated to tune out. I now live alone and that helps and I love my life. Relationships have always been hard because of this horrible condition. Eventually you preempt these noises and you get mad and resentful. Eating, slurping, sniffing, breathing whistles... I really hope one day there is some sort of treatment for this that everyone can afford.
@user-wp7eo8nx5m that's what auditory processing disorders causes. frustration and anxiety, or anger. It can vary from person to person.
This!! A lot of what killed my attraction to my previous partner was their eating habits, and their tendency to do things like sniff, clear their throat, mouth breathe, etc. I hate that such sounds, mostly beyond their control, contributed so much to me falling out of love with them. I hate that so much about myself, that these sounds produce such a visceral reaction. I've been single for a year now but I still live with my now ex partner, and though I've wanted to explore new relationships, having the constant reminder of how those sounds trigger me just makes me chastise myself and tell myself I can't make someone else happy if I can be bothered by such small things. It's incredibly isolating and I've forced myself to miss out on opportunities to connect with others because of the self-hatred it breeds. I don't like instantly resenting someone for things that should be so trivial, but I've yet to find a professional who knows how to treat the sensitivity. I hope the both of us are able to find some relief from it some day in a way that is both effective and affordable.
it's been a strain on my relationship, and I think he thought I was crazy our first few years together. Now he understands and accepts that if I suddenly snap at him to quit breathing, it's nothing personal lol, it's just that the sound of air going in and out of the nose drives me NUTS. We're learning to cope with it. We go our separate ways a lot and hang out in different rooms at night, which is fine because we both value our alone time, and when we hang out together we play music in the background and have fans running to block out the little noises that drive me crazy.
I've been struggling so much with this since so long. My quality of life would be better if I was deaf. Thank you for this video.
In my experience real sound sensitivity isn't only anxiety which has tolerance which can grow. It's painful. It's overload. Headphones, sound softener helps. Maybe if it is only anxiety based. But from people online who have similar experiences it doesn't get better from exposure. I find it much better to find coping strategies because then I can go places and do stuff more. People can be involved in situations with noise because it's not painful as much or overload as much. I see people who experience more often say tolerance can't grow and they finally could be thriving and included when they found ways to manage instead of pushing sound tolerance. People without sound sensitivity seem to think tolerance building is easy and the way to go, but it's not for the majority in my experience.
Thank you for bringing this up! I was about to comment that even in my limited research into misophonia, exposure therapy can actually make the condition worse, so treating it the same as other sound sensitivities is not recommended. I'm looking into treatment for it next year and really hope it keeps getting more media attention to overcome misconceptions and stigma!
@@christythies548 This youtuber is an idiot. She admits she's not an expert, and she has only done a tiny, brief amount of research, yet she is telling people what to do (and what not to do) for their sound sensitivities even though many people who actually have those conditions have already tried what she's suggesting and it didn't work. There are no effective treatments for misophonia that have been identified by the medical establishment.
@@christythies548have u done sound therapy
I have really strong synaesthesia, so sounds set off an explosion of colours, textures, words, numbers, emotions, and sensations. It's very overwhelming for a trauma survivor. But understanding how my nervous system works, how my brain processes information, and how to normalise trigger reactions (e.g. somatic tracking) has really helped.
Hey, I have synaesthesia too! I taste names. Yours is a lolly pop, the flat round raspberry flavour kind :)
Awesome you found a way to lessen the severity of your overwhelm. Wishing you good health.
The more I study my disorders and conditions, the more I see the comorbidities commonly occurring. As a professional musician, I wish I had auditory synaesthesia, but mine crosses smells with colors and experiences (ex. cedar is black with gray pin-pricks and feels like a hug). I haven’t found colors or shapes in sounds yet, but it’s possible that my mysophonia distracts me from seeing them.
Thank you Emma for acknowledging that some therapists harm a patient’s recovery with inappropriate advice. I rarely see people in the psychology field admit this, or even talk about therapist specialities.
I've had Misophonia for at least a decade now. It would keep me up at night, and caused the most anxiety I've ever felt in my life. I highly recommend a lot of the alternative therapies that are out there. The best treatment for me was one that involved muscle testing and addressing old emotions. I experienced a great deal of remission after I learned how to sit with the uncomfortable emotions that my triggers bring up. (And although it wasn't super clear in the video, you might find that those emotions can be anything from sadness to fear to shame to overwhelm. Literally any uncomfortable emotion that you don't want to deal with.) Rather than trying to get comfortable with the sound itself, I've found it much more effective to ask myself what emotion my brain is trying to protect me from when I hear a trigger. And then spend some time away from the sound, but remembering the feeling and learning to sit with the discomfort.
hi hi can we talk i want know more abut your story it seems like story with positive and can you share your instagram maybe so i can write to you?
@@klaudiazajac8291 I don't feel comfortable posting my insta in a public forum, but if you're comfortable posting yours I'd be happy to message you. If not, I'd be happy to continue the conversation here.
Oh thank you so much!
This was an extremely helpful comment. Thank you for sharing.
This is brilliant. I'm really going to take in what you've said here. A real game-changer. Thank you.
Thanks for this information. I always wondered why my neighbor's leaf blower made me feel angry, and irritated - even with the windows closed. Usually, it worse in the fall, but he's one of these people who can't stand to see a single leaf in his yard! So it's not only the sound, but the frequency, and length of time that I have to hear it. I also have tinnitus, and now understand the connection. I sometimes avoid it, but other times just try and busy myself on the other side of the house, where I can still hear it but it is not as noticeable. In reading the comments, I'm glad to know it's not just me!
I too have the same problem! It drives me crazy! I have bipolar depression and anxiety & those leaf blowers are awful. Plus someone was trying to fix a motorcycle or something the other day & kept revving it up.
My husband doesn't understand.
He'll be singing loud or saying things & I tell him he's making me extremely nervous. He thinks I'm mad at him because I ask him to stop & he doesn't so I end up yelling at him to stop!
I'm also in deep grief over my dear Mama who went to heaven August, 2021... God bless everyone...🙏🏻✝️😓
@@julesservantofjesus972 I'm so sorry for your loss, and I pray the days to come will get better for you.🙏
@@coffeetime5995 Thank you so much! God bless you! 🙏🏻✝️💞
I think frequency of the annoying or distressing noise is super important. I have upstairs neighbours and it's just almost constant thudding around. They have 2 young kids so I know that the noise isn't malicious just really annoying. I'm trying to tell myself to accept it's not a threat. I've had problems in the past with DELIBERATE noisemakers so the situation puts me on edge
I absolutely hate when people turn up the bass so loud it makes my brain rattle in my head and darn near shakes loose my fillings. I find it so rude and it makes me very angry. I fantasize about terrible things happening to those cars. Now I have a name for this.
Leaf blowers make me go completely insane! I cant understand how it doesnt have the same effect on everyone. Thank you for this info
Todd: yeah I have read a few times how leaf blowers were invented by Chinese to use on farms. Now every home uses them....arggggh
I feel for you but leaf blowers don't bother me. I'm wondering if there's some low frequency in electric devices almost not audible which actually disturbs people
I’ve had hyperacusis my whole life (because of my ASD), but I was able to manage it. About eight years ago it started to get worse. Sounds got louder and more painful over the next five years and people told me it was anxiety making it worse. I tried everything, but I ended up having to wear headphones in places like the grocery store so I could still do things I needed. At the end of those five years I was diagnosed with Cushings syndrome due to a tumor and when they removed it my cortisol went back to normal and my hyperacusis went back to normal. My doctors were stunned but I was so happy it was tolerable again. The body is weird.
Holy hell! I'm sorry it took so long to get a correct diagnosis and treatment, but I'm glad it turned out ok in the end!
This is why it really bothers me how quickly people go to "that's a mental illness, you need therapy." I've had several issues like this that were below the neck physical issues or strictly neurological, but saying "therapy" is a get out of work free card for the doctors I've seen. Maybe therapy will help, but now they can only tell me that after they investigate everything else.
That makes so much sense. I personally believe hormone imbalances can increase the severity of noise sensitivity and that's precisely what Cushing's causes. I'm glad to read the severity of it decreased after your surgery!
Unfortunately, exposure therapy makes things *worse* if the underlying issue is sensory integration dysfunction. Another example of why correct diagnosis is so important.
I wonder if avoidance after a brain injury is making my sensitivity worse.
Therapists are ridiculous for enforcing "just tough it out" jfc. I hate my life and will never get help - is how I feel rn
I damaged ears with headphones... do u recommend sound therapy
I hate that exposure therapy is the solution for so many therapists.
Interesting…. Ya’ll make me curious if there is another approach to treating this. Are there better ways to help calm the nervous system before getting to exposure therapy? Dietary for example…. Magnesium, velarían root, vagus nerve stimulation, stabilizing blood sugar or hormones… BEFORE moving further into therapy. Things for me to ponder.
One of my triggers is a pool heater pump that runs next door. Wasn’t there when I moved in. That thing makes me feel violent. It’s unrelenting and runs for hours. I do not even know how to cope with that. I can walk off if people are eating. No problem. Better to avoid than completely damage my relationships. But… I can hear this pump in every room of my home and feel the vibrations of it in the flooring. It’s a damn nightmare. I have to put up with it until I can move. I really don’t think exposure therapy will work in every situation.
Yes, certain sounds make me feel very triggered like gum popping, typing loudly, and animal licking sounds. The last one made my relationship with my partner’s cat really tough. Unfortunately, life doesn’t care too much about what sounds bother you since it’s like well, just get over it.
Oh my gosh I hear you my boyfriend snores half way into
O
relationship..and if I move to another room with disturbed sleeps his catstartsbloody8cking herself.drives me crazy
@@janine100473 LOL exactly! I have a snoring bf too and it also drives me crazy.
And it sucks too that it seems like the treatment for this issue is also "well, just get over it, in fact, hear it more." Like why aren't people more considerate of the sounds they make??
Some folks have taken to slapping their hands quickly. The thoughts I have then border on murderous.....
@@TheLiberaceTheory no offense but what exactly do you expect? You can't stop life on earth just because you have a problem with noises. People are also not mindreaders, how are strangers supposed to know which random person is bothered by what noise? I can't stand licking and wet chewing noises either but I'm not going to tell people not to eat or pets to stop existing... 🙄
I have hyperacusis because of PTSD. My brain doesn't filter sounds as well any more because it's always on alert. Sometimes I'll notice a sound and my brain will focus on it making it louder and louder. My reaction is flight... I really feel like I'd do anything to get away from the noise. To the point that I'm so distracted by the noise that I can't do anything else! Noise cancelling headphones helps, but better than just listening to the noise cancelling... listening to music or a video causes my brain to focus on something else, so the sound seems to diminish or at least more tolerable. 💖🌞🌵😷
I use that method too (listening to music or a podcast). I love classical music, I used to play the violin, and I also love to listen to the wind rustling in the trees and the birds singing when I'm out, or to the waves when I am at the seaside.
I developed hyperacusis in one ear after a sudden hearing loss, but was gradually able to get it back to normal with the help of an audiologist. She had me listen to white noise at a comfortable level for a certain amount of time every day and then re-measured my startle response to various tones. Over time I was able to hear louder and louder tones without feeling that overreaction. So I would recommend and audiologist who specializes in hyperacusis treatment because it definitely can be treatable, speaking from personal experience.
OmHeck..the cold sweats and stomach pain, skin crawling was horrible..i work in a hospital l, have four kids, lots of animals, and a husband!.FULL of repetitive sounds....my antidepressant helps soooo much...and i practice daily coping and mindfulness..the TV is still turned way low, and video games are ONLY on earbuds or I'm toast..what a journey its been!
@@99hollyberry thank you for your comment. I'll check into it. My only hesitation is that I've never been able to listen to any type of white noise. The static one irritates me so much that it feels like every hair on my body is standing straight up. And because of the PTSD, I'm so focused that I know when the white noise (like frogs or ocean waves) loops (starts over). But I'll give it a go, thanks again. 💖🌞🌵😷
That seems horrible.
Barking dogs aggravate the hell out of me.
I have neighbors who ride dirt bikes around their yard and constantly/daily rev car and truck engines. I fit the diagnosis of misophonia. I cry and have to put hands over my ears. Exposure is useless. I run loud fans in my house to avoid, which is of some help. Headphones with music also helps. But nothing completely calms things. I tried talking to the people in a nice manner, but they were basically obnoxious. I would love to sit on my back porch in peace, but that will never happen. I don't think people are made to endure sound intrusions of that type.
move away from there, Cynthia. It will ruin your health. I changed apartments 4 times and now finally found a halfway acceptable place to be...
I too must rely on fans when the neighbors get too loud. I'm looking for somewhere else to live. I wish you the very best of luck.
I sympathise. Neighbours using power tools drive me insane, and they do it constantly.
Theres a guy down my street, w the LOUDEST muffler :( every time I hear it I just want to go out there n throw a rock at his car lol those same ppl also have 5 dirtbikes :(
One summer, when I had to find a new apartment, I actually lived in a vacant barn while I hunted down a place that I knew would be quiet. Also, I once quit a job because of soft voices on the other side of my cubicle. This is misophonia as I experience it. No peace without quiet. I am so sorry for you, because I know how upsetting it is.
I find with misophonia, the closer I am emotionally to a person (especially spouse), the more his chewing bothers me; I'm fine with a random stranger next to me chewing, but I feel absolute rage with my husband. We find music in the background helps a lot. Forcing myself to listen to him eat makes me like him less. The gradual exposure thing to me misses the point of the underlying emotional attachment issues. But I don't know answers, so avoid, I do! For the sake of our marriage!
Yep same here, I am a bit ashamed to admit that noise from close people is worse then from strangers as if I am a bad person.
Same!! I feel so bad and sound so rude and mean to people I love
He didn't say how far he lives from the airport, but if he's on the edge of the park and the airport is anywhere nearby, the sound of an airplane going "right over [his] house" would be anything but quiet. I once lived near an airport and my friend lived a few blocks away. Whenever a plane took off, right over our houses, we had to pause our conversation because we couldn't hear each other. Thankfully it was a smaller airport and much less frequent than his case. This could be aggravating to someone even without sensory sensitivity. I hope gets the help he needs.
Planes used to make a big shadow in our houses going over. We couldn't hear one another speak either. With all the downed ones now I have upgraded to brace for one crashing. Helicopters go over me now at 3 am. The vibration and noise gives me flashbacks to Vietnam news on TV as a kid. Oooof.
Thank you for this video and bringing light to these disorders, and sensitivities. Firstly, my heart goes out to anyone experiencing hearing disorders and sound anxiety/sensitivity of any kind. I have hyperacusis for the past 3 years including tinnitus... and a whole lot of sound anxiety that has completely changed my life! It's very challenging, stressful, and requires constant management. That's exactly what happened to me, I went to the ENT had hearing tests etc; nothing, then to an otolaryngologist, (hearing/inner-ear specialist/surgeon) nothing, but he gave me a diagnosis of hyperacusis and tinnitus... He then referred me to an neurologist... The neurologist has treated me for other things...but basically has told me that I am neurologically wired very sensitively. She even told me that living outside of a town would be best for me. So, when you suggest that people need to just face sounds, yes and no. Some people do better away from cities and all the clamor. I highly suggest on top of this that you learn about HSPs (highly sensitive people). I have yet to see an audiologist or therapist specializing in sound disorders... This is good information though bec I did not know this was an option. I have a ton of anxiety associated with sounds, certain sounds in particular, on top of being sound sensitive, triggering massive anxiety. I've had about a year of therapy to help with all of this, learned about coping skills, but it doesn't take it all away as there is no cure. People also need to realize that noise pollution is very REAL, even for normal hearing people. More people need to be aware of this, and conscious of the noise pollution they generate and how it could be (and is) effecting themselves and others.
noise pollution is very REAL. Spot on!
I’m an HSP and loud sounds make me feel anxious and on edge.
Thank you so much for posting this. I have worked with a woman with sound sensitivity for the last 15 years, and I think she was diagnosed with hyperacusis/misophonia.
I feel bad for her. We work in a warehouse with many loud noises, but it’s actually the subtle sounds that set her off. She is constantly angry and aggressive, extremely hard to get along with, 😢and just seems miserable all of the time.
If someone is chewing gum, humming, or sipping water anywhere near her, she has to plug her ears and walk away. I can’t imagine how difficult this is to deal with, but she is aware that not everyone has this problem, but she doesn’t share her condition with everyone.
Unfortunately she doesn’t seem to cope with it very well and takes it out on everyone around her every day - resulting in many hurt feelings and resentments, even with people quitting their job ( she is in a management position and has some authority )
I don’t think she realizes how her condition has affected her life in such a dramatic way. She told me about her condition years ago and it explained so much that I was able to except and tolerate her behavior, and I have tried to encourage my coworkers to also overlook her aggressiveness in light of the situation.
I hope that your research and this video will enlighten and inspire those suffering to seek therapy for this rare condition, thank you 🙏
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR VIDEOS
WE TRULY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO 🙏😌
I love my Loop earplugs for just these reasons! It takes my brain a lot of energy to filter out everyday noises, and when Im tired or stressed, all the noises together in my environment become overwhelming.
A few weeks ago, I went to a movie night with friends. Normally I come home from these events with a pounding headache, totally exhausted. But this time, I put in my earplugs, which reduced the volume by 15 dB. I went home without a headache and plenty of energy!
So glad I read the comments. I don't feel so alone now. Am going to check out the Loop earplugs.
I just ordered these for my misophonia. I have the flare ones, they funnel sound and they help me quite a bit. But at university I can hear people chewing gum, clicking pens, and it's just so overwhelming I get so angry I want to cry.
My daughter loaned me a pair of these to try. The do help a lot. Nice to still be able to hear TV or conversations with them, just not at a mind numbing volume. Regular ear plugs make it difficult to catch a lot of the sounds that I do want to hear, while the Loop ones don't seem to do that. There are a variety of options and worth checking out.
Unfortunately they don't work for everyone. They caused a suction sensation in my ear which I found irritating. I tried the experience ones as well which they claimed would not suction like the quiet ones but they still did.
Hey @@toniariana3017 , how did you end up liking Loops for misophonia? Were they worth the money for you?
Most mouth sounds trigger me. I'm considering ordering Loop earplugs (maybe the Quiet ones?) so I can eat dinner closer to y family.
No, but a deafening silence is golden
Anxiety happens when you think you have to figure out everything all at once . Breathe . You're strong . You got this . Take it day by day .
I have researched and found out that shrooms are very helpful , it has really helps to reduce anxiety and depression . I would love to try magic mushrooms but I can't easily get some , Is there any realiable source I can purchase one
I have been having constant and unbearable anxiety because of university.
Dr.healingstrain is life saver. Thank you
I am feeling the same way too, I put too much on my plate and it definitely affects my stress and anxiety levels. I am also glad to be part of this community.
Does he ship?
Tripping is not all that bad but one has to find a good mycologist to teach you the right things you need to
know
I too have misophonia. My biggest triggers are heavy breathing or snoring. Those sounds can potentially send me into a rage. It used to when I was a kid. My family was loud too, which I always found irritating. Still do. I always thought I was weird, but here we are with a name for this problem. I’ve slept with earplugs for years because it’s the only way that I’ll get any sleep. Thanks for this video.
Mine is for breathing and snoring too… I’ve always felt bad for being angry at someone for breathing because it feels like I’m angry at them for being alive, but I will try out these tips to see if it helps!
@@BrianPoppesame I feel like that too anyways did it get better?
I'm autistic and have some variety of sensory processing issues with sounds (not sure which ones). Two things to add to the excellent discussion:
1) IMO, the single biggest thing to help audio-sensitive people apart from these direct tips is to help them find their agency. When we are used to any random person having the ability to fry our brains and keep us from concentrating, it is easy to believe that we are not very much in control of our lives - because for years we aren't! So there is a lot of passivity in our combined lives that has negative effects everywhere else.
2) As a music producer, I know I am especially sensitive within a frequency range - I describe it as an allergy to 2-3 kHz. I wouldn't be surprised if EQ and ADSR waveform analysis would help patients understand what other sounds the brain is associating with the primary trigger.
Just try 250mg of Ponstan in the morning and let us know in the comments how that worked out for you.
@SunnyinNV 2-3 kHz is on the bright side of the midrange. That irritating low bass is going to be around 60 Hz (that's a standard placement for kick drums). The other sounds you mentioned might have some noise at 2-3 kHz but are likely to go higher as well.
A lot of people grow up and think they don't have sensory sensitivities anymore because they are suddenly in charge of things like household volume and buying socks so they get rid of everything they don't like and choose things that feel good
Accommodations really work
They can actually work so well that you may prevent yourself from getting a diagnosis
Wow! This makes it all so clear!! I had a coworker once who used to whistle a lot and it made me sooo aggravated!! I couldn’t help but say something and he took great offense to it! I also can’t hear to things at once like music and conversation? These days my adopted dogs barking gets me so stressed and mad I’ve paid for many specialty trainers to make it stop! But even trained dogs bark and I tense up every single time!! I have fish tanks and the sound of the air pumps and filters upsets me. I need a white noise machine to sleep! At 52 I had no idea there was an actual disorder for this! I’m glad I’m not alone! Friends/family get annoyed with me!! 😟
Just a suggestion for your barking dogs. I purchased a citronella bark collar for my Mums dog and it worked within minutes! It just sprays a lemon smell when the dog barks. They don't like it and soon figure out that it only happens when they bark and they stop barking.
My son is autistic. Thank you for this information, I'll talk to the doctor because he is having more issues at school related to loud sounds. I want him to be and feel better..👍
I am a SPED teacher and i have a student w/ autism who has very hard time in the noisy sometimes chaotic classroom environment. I hope you and your son find some relief.
Thank you for addressing these issues. I have misophonia. I once ended up in the doctor's office because I had stuck a bit of tissue in my ear to block the sound of someone chewing their gum behind me in a meeting. When I could still hear it, I put in a 2nd piece of tissue, which pushed the first one in so far I couldn't retrieve it. During the pandemic, it was a relief not to have to deal with as much gum chewing, humming, whistling, nail filing, loud smacking, heavy nose breathing, talking while chewing...I have to stop because I'm getting angry. I also have a hatred of certain words and phrases and I wonder if that is an extension of misophonia.
Anyway, you're the first person to suggest a solution, so thank you! Although I did laugh out loud at the thought of having a family member deliberately make mouth noises at regular intervals in order to desensitize me.
I have autism, and am very sensitive to sounds. I'm also very sensitive to visual input, but that isn't much of a problem because I can just close my eyes whenever they get too much. (I've gotten pretty good at walkign with my eyes closed, lol)
In my experience, avoiding sounds is not only useful, but necessary. Annoying sounds are almost everywhere: my fridge is loud, the heating in many buildings is loud, on public transport people listen to music loudly so that I can hear it through their headphones, people make sounds when they are breathing (even my own breathing is annoying if I have a stuffed nose), some clocks tick loudly, my own heartbeat is often annoying.
So, I do a lot of things to avoid these sounds: I tend to sleep on my right side so that I hear my heartbeat less loudly. When visiting friends, I ask them to remove the ticking clocks. I have noise canceling head phones and sometimes sleep with them. Sometimes I even decide the I don't really need a fridge for a few days and value the silence more. I also try to keep my bed away from the wall that has pipes. If I didn't avoid triggering sounds, then I would be exposed to them 24 hours per day, and often to multiple triggering sounds simultaniously. It would make it very hard to sleep at night. In the past, I've had migranes for multiple days because I tried out what would happen if I stopped avoiding sounds.
Maybe it isn't helpful to avoid triggering sounds entirely, but you also mention that gradual exposure is important. The reality for me is that gradual exposure is almost impossible because even with a lot of effort to avoid sounds, I'm still exposed to them multiple hours per day. Without any effort to avoid sounds, I would almost always be exposed to them.
You just said everything I wanted to write down!! Being autistic, you are constantly exposed to noises that are unconfortable or irritating, it is so true.
I completely agree with you. I relate so much to many things you listed - I remember how as a little kid I wasnt able to fall asleep since my heart was beating so loud, when I lived in a studio with a fridge in a bedroom I had to unplug it often, I turn off heating because it makes constant sound.. There are sounds 24/7. Especially if you live in a big city, it is nonstop noise of many decibels, more than is healthy even for people who are not as sensory senstive as me. I feel completely overwhelmed when I have to listen to them nonstop. I need a break to relax. I sleep with earplugs and recently bought noise cancelling headphones for the noisy office (windows to a big street with cars, trams, construction site and ambulances), I can finally focus in them and feel less depleted at the end of the day. I just feel that the constant noise is taking huge amount of my daily energy, if I go to a quite place for a weekend or so, I suddenly feel more focused and everything. And exposure is not helping, it is actually making it worse, I never got used to these sounds, even after living my whole life in such conditions. It is important to escape and hear nothing for enough hours every day..
I don't like this avoid sounds and it will get worse yes that is partly true but it's about the right balance especially if you are autistic as well this is not pointed out in this video a blocking out all sounds means you don't melt down wouldn't you do that even if that means you have to put the headset on every time you encounter a particular environment and this exposure therapy sounds nonsense to me I have exposure therapy every time a motorbike goes past I am no less concerned about the noise I wouldn't block it out cuz I don't want to wear headsets all the time but if I was to block out hearing again wouldn't make no difference
I have misophonia. I can't stand it when I'm on a train and someone behind me is eating something. Or just chewing. Or when people are clipping their nails. Or clicking a pen.
I was diagnosed with ADHD this year, at the age of 44.
I've read that misophonia is pretty common in people with ADHD so I'm surprised you didn't mention that here.
Same with misophonia and ADHD. Funnily enough, I enjoy ASMR for relaxing as long as it’s nice quiet voices and crinkling paper etc, but they’re really into tapping and that drives me insane.
Nail clippers! ACK!
They are only used on public transit, never at home (eye roll)
the chewiiiinggg omg the smacking makes me want to punch whoever is doing it. CLOSE YOUR MOUTHS! 😭
I once shouted out my window at an Ice-cream Truck. To be fair I didn’t know what it was and the speakers that were playing music were really really scratchy. I was a little embarrassed after I learned what I was yelling at.
Right. There can be a variety of conditions that either cause or increase sound sensitivities. It's not necessarily something that can be trained away, depending on the individual. Particularly if there's something underlying like hormonal imbalance, ADHD, nervous system disorders like POTS or vagus nerve dysfunction. It's really important these things are ruled out so people don't blame themselves when certain techniques fail.
I'm so glad you made this excellent video!
Pretty sure I have misophonia. It sucks. I am much better with it now, but I still have a reaction, and I confess I often wear earplugs/ear buds with white noise at home to drown out neighbors (apt with thin walls).
One thing I do when I encounter a noise I'm reacting to but must endure is to imagine the person who's making the noise doing all sorts of nice things, oftentimes for me, lol. Or I'll tell myself they must make those sounds in order to prevent some terrible consequence. Then I feel sympathetic. It's crazy, but it can really help.
At 64, I have come to realize that much of my stress and anxiety throughout my adult life is related to my intolerance to noise. I am so stressed from noise these days that I almost constantly have earbuds in my ears to mask out the leaf blowers, lawn mowers, people at work who never shut up, etc. I have music loaded on mu MP3 player that I love and I use to mask out the noise.
I have misophonia. Whats helped me is headphones, especially those that fully cover the ear, and brown noise through them.
together with wax-ear-plugs. Works quite well ....
Can I ask you something about misophonia
Headphones wont work because my family always want me to hear what they have to say 🥲
Hey💗i have severe pain hyperacusis.it's stolen my life away.it was from someone slamming a door way too hard.thank you so much for bringing some much needed attention to this horrible condition🙏much love💛
How are you doing now ? I’m really really depressed
Oh wow... my entire life I've been tortured by ticking clocks. It literally never occurred to me until watching your video that it's directly tied to anxiety. I haven't found a solution except completely avoiding ticking clocks (these days that's pretty easy - when I visit my parents I take the batteries out of all their ticking clocks and they always tease me about it)!
I cannot be around ticking clocks or dripping taps!
This is me!!!!!!
Just going to say, I have never experienced planes going over my home as being “quiet” as you mentioned. The guy in the email mentions its every 15 minutes. I feel very sorry for him because that sounds awful. I grew up with jets flying over my house and it was so annoying and loud but at least it was less frequent.
My biggest stressor is hearing people that I live with, interact and live upstairs, like walking above me, moving around in chairs, elderly mother in law walking around all hours of the day and night with a Walker, Then every time somebody communicates with her they have to yell so she can hear and she refuses to wear her hearing aids so I’m just completely stressed out all the time and then knowing that I have to go up there and clean up there and take care of people and blah blah blah blah blah it’s so so irritating!
I remember reading some research that linked misophonia and PTSD.
Hahah I can clearly associate a person in my family to each type of sound I react to
I am fortunate enough to experience the calming pleasure of ASMR. I am also misfortune enough to suffer misophonia. Misophonia is torture not only because of the intense mental and physical reactions and feelings I experience but also because people accuse me of overreacting, of being weird/mental, of it being in my head, of me just looking for a reason to be mad, etc. People don’t understand it because they don’t experience it or it’s something they can’t physically see. But for me, it causes stress, anxiety, anger and pain. I’m told to just ignore it. I wish I could. I wish I didn’t suffer this disorder and I’m not sure why I do, but I do. I would love to get professional help but my insurance doesn’t cover it, so it’s something I’ll probably suffer from for the rest of my life. I’ve tried the tips you gave and for me, they don’t help. I hope they work for others.
Don't give up. I've been suffering too...and you're not alone. I'm currently because of this video seeking an audiologist...
I have misophonia as well and I can’t stand ASMR, they are one of my worst nightmares, so painful!! 😩
@@cotevallejos7230 ASMR is nails on a chalkboard to me. I have visceral reactions to mouth noises, especially.
@@katie7748 omg yes!! Is the worst 🤣😩 earplugs are a blessing for us!!
@@katie7748 I love some ASMR, but cannot handle mouth sounds - they're one of the worst sounds in the world for me. I stick to no talking/no mouth sounds asmr with soft sounds.
Ironically, the video had some obvious sound issues with an eventual underlying tone throughout, which distracted me for a while until I refocused on the spoken words. I wondered if this was a secret test, but nothing was mentioned by the end of the video, so I'm now wondering if it was just me and my sensitive hearing, which was my main reason for watching this video in the first place.
Definitely not just you. I too wondered if it was intentional.
Yes, and I almost couldn't stand her voice overall. People's voices are my trigger... and their sentence repetition. Also, moaning, yawning, snoring.
The music at the start was super distracting and then her voice changed at ~7min interval. Not great for someone with sound sensitivity
That tone that showed up when she started talking about how to treat these sensitivities. I had to take off my headphones to keep listening. But I'm done watching after the mention of exposure therapy! Ugh!
I heard it too
Yes!!!!!! Hyperacusis. Its driving me nuts!!!!!!! I hear everything and it drives me nuts; barking dogs, beeping horns......
Thank you for addressing this important issue and how to cope. But can I just provide important context here: Our world is getting noisier and more crowded year on year. The human population has doubled in my lifetime (50 years) and we have become increasingly mechanized.
Leafblowers, at 130 db, are above the 100db threshhold that the human ear can tolerate because actual damage to hearing starts at that level. And lots of things are near or above 100db such as lawnmowers, chainsaws, train horns, car horns, sirens; smoke, car or burgler alarms...
Airplanes flying over one's house are for many people not a quiet background noise but a menacing intrusion accompanied by a foul-smelling trail of exhaust that comes in through closed windows.
There is nothing natural about this noisy world we've created and so we should not blame ourselves if our brains simply cannot process it all.
Just to add:
Therapeudic skills help but more importantly, get politically involved.
We used to have a train horn sounding every 30 mins from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. The sound got notably louder in recent years when they upgraded the trains. It was hugely disruptive to my sleep and my sanity. I would startle at every blast, my heart pounding, and watch the clock in anticipation of the next blast.
Finally, I wrote the local paper and politicians, had a petition going. I got very little support and most people ridiculed me. But then one day the train fell quiet and I discovered they'd taken measures to make the horn warnings unnecessary.
I am so glad I took action, as it ended up helping hundreds of other quietly suffering people, not to mention our beleaguered wildlife.
I feel so guilty. I know I am 20-35 years too late, but when I would eat dinner with my parents, it was if my ears became hyper focused. I would hear them chew every bite and they would talk while eating as well. It went from making me completely nauseated to an internal rage. I would lose my appetite and have to leave the room; sometimes I cried while feeling like I wanted to throw up. I know I lashed out as well. I lost both of them in 2020. They didn't deserve to be treated like that for having a family dinner. None of us had any clue at the time, that's for sure. I still have issues with loud eaters, but I don't encounter it much. I try not to eat my own food in a quiet space or I feel sick. I just wish I knew, so my parents could know it wasn't their fault or mine...
Thank you so much for this video. When I was in elementary school, I very very slowly lost hearing in my right ear - so slowly that I didn't realize it. Then I got the flu, I got sent to a specialist and he accidentally discovered it. As it turned out, there were treatment options available and over time I got my hearing back.
But.
I vividly remember exiting my doctor's office and holding my hands over my ears as a motorcycle sped by. And that discomfort never went away. My ears work fine, I can hear as well as anyone, and it's been almost twenty years since then. But I can't stand loud noises, they make me really upset, and I just perceive them as being much louder than others seem to. A car backfiring to my friends is just a car backfiring. A firecracker is just a firecracker. To me, they're just... incredible stressors.
It wasn't until now that it even crystallized for me that this difference in perception and irritation by auditory stimuli is a matter of psychology at all. I just thought - I once had damaged hearing and I've been hypersensitive since. It is what it is. Now I know better and I can bring it up to my therapist in case she feels like doing some research.
When I find myself in an apt where the throbbing bass of a stereo from another apt throbs in my walls creates instant rage in me. Not just anger. The mindless honk honk honk of car alarms going off does the same thing. Insistent rythmic sounds all do this to me. For this reason, rap music with it's deep, throbbing bass has the same effect. My friends say to me that I have to listen to the lyrics but the rhythms sound, to me, like a violent assault.
I am on your team.
I will get flamed for this but basically a LOT of rap music is terrible
i am truly delightful that i found this channel a couple of months ago. ive been going to a lot of psychiatrists for my diseases but i also have been changing a shit tone of therapists just because I thought that no one was doing anything/caring about me. but after i discovered this channel i started care about myself and i started to learn what's wrong and deal with it instead of avoiding it and running away. you're one of the reasons for that. i thank you 💗💗💗💗
(she's my mom frr)
Interestingly I do not react to traffic noises, i.e. things that are un-avoidable. But I strongly react to noises people make, out of un-awareness or disrespect - or lack of manners: loud, primitive neighbours, people eating in a disgusting way ...
Me too - and I wouldn't regard it as a disorder, we just like a quiet environment. I very rarely have music or the radio on when in the house alone - that's just my personal preference. My partner on the other hand always has to have a radio on, crashes around like there's no tomorrow - he's just a loud person, it's just the way he is!
I have had tinnitus and synesthesia since I had a nasty bang on the head as a child. Neither bothers me particularly.
The changes in your audio throughout this video drove me insane; but I have known for years that I have these issues :) Great video. Thank you for putting this out.
the neighbour ht the wall every few minutes
then whenever I hear it, i go nts
Super helpful because i too live in an apartment :( i think technological progress is both a blessing and a curse. We achieved a lot of great things, but i like to think our hunter-gatherers ancestors didn't need as much psychological help as we do today because a lot of the artificial problems we created ourselfs in our progress.
I definitely struggle with audio sensitivity. From these three I would say probably hyperacusis? But not sure. I am sensory sensitive in general. I can smell, taste and hear things with good precision that others dont, my sense of touch is also very sensitive and I am definitely light sensitive too. I think maybe my whole nervous system is just way more sensitive. And many of such inputs are just unbearable. It is also definitely connected to hyperarousal of nervous system - ie when I am really anxious and tense or even panicking, then everything is very loud, it seems to me, like the world is screaming (not just the audio input, but also other inputs like smell etc..). But even when I am completely calm, all these inputs are often just overwhelming and they cause tension, anxiety and brainfog. When I moved to slightly smaller city for couple months I could totally feel the difference, I suddently had more energy, better focus and everything. I am really wondering about the whole exposure/non avoidance thing. Because I found out that if I limit my exposure to these things, I can finally function. If I put noise cancelling headphones on in my office (which has windows to a big street with lots of noise), I can finally focus and do something. Before that, I was just extremely tired at the end of the day, always somehow trying to cancel out the extra noise and input, it is tiring. It is like listening to a video recorded on a terrible microphone, you can listen to that but it is extremely exhausting, since you have to somehow cancel out the background noise and realy focus on the words to understand them... I live in a huge noisy city my whole life and I never got used to it, it never got better, I actually thing it just got worse. And when I get a break, it gets better because my nerves can finally calm down and enjoy "no strong input" time.
Our nervous systems haven't had nearly enough time to evolve to the noise of big cities. Find a small town. You're a very sensitive person.
I also questioned the advice about non-avoidance/exposure, since, like you, I recently moved to a quiet neighborhood where I finally feel calmer and more relaxed. Living with steadily increasing noise and my annoyance with it over the years has only become worse, not better. I honestly don't believe that more exposure will help because that is what I've been trying to do my entire life. I finally just moved away from as much as I could. Will I therefore become more sensitive? Maybe so, but how I feel now is better / less tired, and more productive than how I felt before. I feel like having time away, or a break, helps me deal with noise when I have to. I also think that I like being alone more than most people, probably for the same reason -- it's quiet and I can think without noise distractions. Thanks for sharing as it was helpful to relate to your situation.
Thank you for this, Emma. 💕 I am triggered by chewing, crunching, & throat clearing, which makes social and work settings challenging. I always felt weird and awful about it until I learned about misophonia a few years ago. Just giving it a name and knowing it's a 'real' issue for me and others has made it easier to accept and manage.
I have all 3 with severe hyperacusis. I was delighted to see you post something about it. Thanks for spreading information
I l😅ke using white noise at night. It used to come from an air cleaner, but now I use a channel on UA-cam.
How did it take me 30 years to learn the word phonophobia? Bullies used to drop heavy books behind me or slam doors to laugh at my panick attacks.
I’m a therapist and I am impressed with this video. I’ve suffered some with each of these. And I was able to find help from this video bc it helped me see there are different ways each one happens and I had previously thought they were all the same.
I've had misophonia for years, and I didn't know there was treatment for it! I'd searched but had no luck finding anything. Thank you for starting me on this path to recovery.
they make me freak out so badly I once considered jumping through a window because a bunch of teenagers were revving their mopeds just outside in the streak, laughing at me when I yelled to keep it down (it was around 1am.) I literally completely lost it and wanted to kill myself. Normally, I just start screaming and breaking the furniture. Especially if a toddler is screaming in the street and the parents do nothing about it, chatting. Even just thinking about it makes me want to kill my dogs. And I'm the person who picks snails off a hiking trail and donates to cat shelters.
You're not alone! These unwanted thoughts kill me more every time I go off. It's not just anger, It's down right homicidal! But I (who also helps keep the little bugs at work from being stepped on) would never act on these thoughts; so who does this anger come down on? ME! Then I get treated like a freak cause I'd rather hit myself on the head and cry my eyes out than go on a murderous rampage.
And I'm not surprised there was no mention in this video about the unwanted sexual responses related with misophonia. Gawd forbid someone actually talk about that.
I applaud your honesty. I've totally lost it in the past with noise disturbances with neighbours getting into very heated very angry arguments basically asking them to cut the crap. In fact it's the first memory of me that my young daughter has...not a good example
I think part of the problem here is that assumes the noise problem is not malicious and that it's just part of modern life so you must accept it
I felt a lot of relief once learning about misophonia. Sneezing is one noise that makes me feel angry at the person, despite knowing full well how unfair that is…! My partners brother has autism and he enjoys screaming or yelling, and these noises trigger me very strongly especially since we all live together. I couldn’t understand for years why I can’t put up with it when others can, especially since I fully get that he is not doing that on purpose - learning about misophonia basically helped me not feel like I’m an evil monster, but gave me a coping mechanism. When I get triggered, just saying to myself: “it’s just misophonia” takes off a lot of pressure and I can focus on putting headphones on or going somewhere else. Knowledge is power!
Aww relatable. Glad you found out that it's misophonia. I have it too. Please excuse me for laughing but I'm just imagining your absolute rage in a public setting
Stranger: 🤧 ahCHOO
FrootKat: 😠😠😠 🔪🔪
@@Nico5890 haha yep 😂 imagine that scene when Snape goes “SILENCE!” if you’ve seen Chamebr of Secrets?
I just discovered from watching this that I have misophonia. My neighbors owns a three dogs in which bark a lot and there AC is also very loud. Whenever I hear these noise I feel extremely frustrated about it. I tried ignoring the barking but to no uses. I will definitely try these skills out. This helped me understand why I'm feeling so frustrated a lot. Thank you!
After watching this video I realized why I am drawn to them. You are a proponent of conquering problems rather than avoiding or masking them. Kudos! Thank you!
I had hyperacusis tinnitus and earworm as past 7 months now ..hyperacusis have softened a little but any song or TV advert I hear sticks and loops in my head for hours .worst was same song for 14 days..doctors and mental health can't figure it out ..I've paid privately to see an audiology this Monday as the audiology I was at just gave me a panflet on tinnitus....I just wish the earworm or musical triggers would stop ..its the worst ..especially pop music on radio I've tried to just except that I'm going to hear these songs everywhere shops etc ..but I hate when they stick and repeat over an over in my head ..tinnitus is very high in the mornings but it settles later in the evening. This i could live with ..just the earworms constant 10 second looping of silly songs thats getting to me .I've seen a counsellor..waste of time ..talked with mental health ,waste of time ..they didn't tell me anything I already knew ..white noise calming techniques .go for a walk ..I just hope one day I get to sit and have a bit of peace
Think about when humans had only oral tradition handed down verbally (no writing). Song hooks, advertising jingles and earworms tap into that mental circuitry. I guess you're just more gifted than most to have the ability to have these stick in your mind. Although you probably feel disgusted at the human condition, it is normal to have a song stuck in your head. The worst is the songs or jingles that don't resolve. Otherwise the advice is to just listen to the end of the song from about the last 20 seconds or so. But then it's about you confronting your disgust and actually listening to the song you hate. And you confronting the unfounded fear that listening to the song for any length of time will somehow mark you as liking that song or agreeing to its content (it doesn't).
7:08 Does anyone else hear the change in the audio quality?
Yes. I'm high sensitive
I've always tried to explain to others about my auditory sensitivity. There are certain people's voices and tics that DRIVE ME NUTS! Whistling or over pronounced S's, tongue tsking, stuttering, repetitive words (like, like, like....). I am so glad I found your channel! I definitely can relate to the Misophonia, it pisses me off when my husband leaves the water running when doing dishes. I do suffer from PTSD from a former abusive relationship. When I hear loud sounds I jerk and at times start to tremble and cry.
I can't agree with your suggestion to stop avoiding these sounds that cause us intense pain and anxiety. I tried white knuckling it through the pain and anxiety for years and it never worked. Even a few second of exposure causes it. Deep breathing isn't enough. When i was gifted noise canceling headphones by a friend it made more activities and work accessible again in ways that have enriched my life
I agree. I think the treatments are made up by people who just don't get it. But hey, if it works for some - lucky them!
Well sound is I think the ONLY sense which doesn't rely on a chemical reaction and stems purely from physical changes. Physical dampening or blocking seems the easiest fix. Blocking by earplugs etc seems reasonable to me much like wearing sunglasses when it's bright and sunny
I get both: anger and anxiety when I hear our next door neighbors noises, especially their kids screeching outside. Their noises have caused me several anxiety attacks. Summers are no longer a joy but a nightmare since the neighbors moved in .Please help
Thank you! I will share this with my therapist. We noticed that my misophonia decreased after I went through trauma therapy (cognitive). The same sounds aren’t as “loud” or annoying. (I still hate jazz though! 🙂 Jazz is not good for anxiety!
Thank you for your the time, energy and thoughtfulness you put into this (and all your) videos. I have noticed an increase in my own sound sensitivity. No anxiety just super annoyed by background sounds. It’s been getting worse. This video is super helpful. I don’t want it to get worse. Now I know what’s happening and can try to retrain my brain with practical tools!
Same. The older I get, the worse it gets. Not sure why it's getting worse but it drives me nuts!
Much respect that you’re covering this
I'm curious about where the line is between what would be considered a functional response to loud noise and what would be considered a dysfunctional one. Surely, if your neighbour is playing heavy bass music that's vibrating your floors, then it would be pretty functional to be upset, wouldn't it? i.e. that emotion might the impetus that drives you take appropriate action (speak to your neighbour, complain to the authorities, move etc) to protect your body and mind, which needs a relatively peaceful environment for at least a part of the day, I would think. I'm always confused as to when to take internal and when to take external action. I see that internal action is more empowering as you can do it any time and it doesn't require the external circumstances to be any different from what they are. At the same time, most of us aren't sitting meditating in caves in mountains and have to take a lot of external action to navigate through our lives. Any thoughts?
I've posted elsewhere. I've experienced several noisy neighbours in my lifetime and a few I think we're being deliberately malicious. The trouble is that when a talk with the neighbour does not produce the results you're left with trying to deal with it legally and laws are inadequate in general. It means you will likely take the law into your own hands or move or get involved in a noise war or be the 1 in 1000 that gets a good result through the legal route
Imo you need to determine if it's neighbours being deliberately noisy or it's purely accidental. If it's the latter I would suggest coping strategies, earplugs,white noise etc or move
Moving is usually the most pragmatic solution imo
You really are the best. I work from home with a guy who plays loud music all day. I hate loud noises. I can’t work think sleep. I have looked everywhere but you have said the only thing that makes sense. You have to get used to it. I don’t know if it will work but it’s the only option. To at some point not even hear the noise. Thank you so much. All your videos are amazing.
It's not the only option. The trouble is we don't have decent laws about noise abuse so people can get away with almost murder. Sometimes it's NOT your problem. I also don't think it helps that new buildings are poor in terms of noise reduction. Ime if you think there is some malicious intent then it maybe worth pursuing some legal avenue.
So glad you did the research on this. I work with children with autism as a behavior therapist. You are so right on! Exposure therapy can help children get used to the sound and function better in society.
Thank you SO MUCH for this video! I'm a technical director of a theatre so I run lights and audio for events with large crowds full time. When I started my career twenty years ago I didn't struggle with the things I now deal with - anxiety, obsessive compulsive behaviors, auditory sensitivities, as well as some kind of hearing loss in the male vocal range (differentiating a voice in a noisy room) but I haven't sought diagnosis or treatment yet for any of the auditory related symptoms. After watching your video it seems like I should talk to my psychiatrist about these things since it may not actually be related to my hearing. Thank you! 💗
I'm in a situation where I'm around a loud talker and laugher. When she talks I feel like I'm being shouted at. And her laugh is very loud bursts and can be startling to me. I've noticed other people jump when she talks/laughs, so I know it's not strictly me being overly sensitive to sounds (which I'm aware I do have for certain things). But it's something I need to work on, because it's gotten to where just the sight of her starts my anxious response going. Thanks for tackling this issue.
You are not alone! I've found the same about some preachers. The loud Bible thumping ones that are shouting, feels like a lash of a whip with every word. Sending lots of love 💖 from sunny 🌞 Arizona 🌵😷
@@suzisaintjames oh I feel that way too with the preachers. And the personal trainers that yell at people to motivate them. Big nope.
Realize that if it's just one person, it's probably not a mental disorder... you have an issue with that person that probably has nothing to do with her volume. Volume is just the easiest thing to focus on. ... I had a problem with a boss's footsteps coming down the hall... The issue was only with him and disappeared when I changed jobs. My advice is to limit or eliminate your contact with this person as much as you can. Sending lots of love 💖 from sunny 🌞 Arizona 🌵😷
@@suzisaintjames You are correct, I have other issues with her.
After surviving a ruptured brain aneurysm, I am SO sensitive to sounds and light. I get overwhelmed by too many sounds at once I shut down. Have to escape to quiet space.
Thank you for all your info and help! I so appreciate you!
Very helpful. Glad person asked question and welcome your research also. Thank you!
I've tried various desensitization exercises which really didn't work. But never in conjunction with a happy or pleasurable activity... I'm sure that's the key! Thanks for the clip with the other doctor. ... I don't know why I didn't think of it for myself! We use that all the time in animal training... The only thing I'd add to her advice is: end on the pleasant activity and not the unpleasant activity. Also, vary the time intervals otherwise you start to anticipate the negative activity.... Think about it: the dog sits on command, you give him the treat or pat on the head.
Wow, I never thought a therapist I followed would talk about Misophonia. There aren't many videos on it, and the few that do exist don't have tips for treatment like you've offered, so thank you for giving us some insight. Most therapists either have never heard of it or they don't take it seriously, bc it's not in the DSM. I've struggled with it for decades, and due to not treating it, it has progressively worsened. Of course, I too had moved to a quiet apartment isolated in nature, which was utter bliss until the economic downturn. I currently live back home and my family's gustatory noises drive me nuts. It's not just rage, it's disgust and the need to physically remove myself that makes it hard to co-exist with them.
I do not eat with family, unless there's music or tv in the background to drown it out. Even doing that is a compromise. Normally I prefer living in silence, so I'm not sure how I can keep music or white noise in the background, considering I live with ADHD (+ Aspie) and background noise is incredibly distracting. I HATEEEE ASMR lol, so I am really resistant at doing the gradual exposure to the noises that trigger me. However, I have been more tolerant of my cat's licking sounds and have started to find them endearing, YET these same noises are not as cute coming from people, so I am pretty skeptical that gradual exposure would improve this issue. It may have to do with the fact that it's not just the noises, but also the visual proximity of the human mouth and how it moves.
I still recoil at the memory of my grandfather sucking up tomato juice off of his shirt (that squirted from his hamburger). The physical action of these noises just amplifies my disgust. I also see red every time my brother does this weird spit-swashing in his mouth when his mouth gets dry. The finger-popping when my mom rapidly licks all 5 saliva'ed fingers makes me want to hurl. I'm getting livid just thinking about it. Ugh I feel insane! Then again, there is dispute among psychiatric circles on whether Misophonia is a sensory processing disorder or a psychological disorder. I do have C-PTSD and other co-morbidities, so psychosis or perceptual distortions are not out of the question either. Lucky me!
What you've described in graphic detail is a very accurate depiction, right down to the contradictory tolerance of sounds from pets. But until some highly regarded psychologist from some prestigious exclusive university has the condition, the entire profession will continue to claim ignorance about it. Your other diagnoses could very well indeed be overlapping symptoms and further progression/degeneration from lack of treatment.
You said background noise distracts you due to adhd. I found the same for me, but it depends on the background noise. White noise hurts, but there are different resonances, or whatever, in pink noise and brown noise. For me, brown noise can be ok, but I had to listen to a few recordings and also to find one loud enough to be helpful. Might be worth trying. UA-cam has lots.
Thank you for the deep dive in this topic. I'm diagnosed with hyperacusis & misophonia and everything you said aligns with what my psychologist & ENT told me. So glad I found your channel!
This was absolutely wonderful, educational and confirming. Thank you!
Emma, thank you ((hugs)). For the last 2-1/2 years there is a high frequency sound outside (seems impossible to trace its origin which often changes) that penetrates my walls. Agitation is the word I use. I've discovered regulating music that allows me to not avoid the trigger AND return to Shalom.