Feeling Annoyed By Sneezing And Coughing Sounds, Recognize The Symptoms Of Misophonia

Illustration recognizing the symptoms and causes of misophonia (Unsplash/Chairulfajar)

JAKARTA – Misophonia is feeling angry, irritated, or anxious after hearing everyday sounds. Everyday sounds in this context, such as sneezing, coughing, burping, breath sounds, the sound of tasting food, to the sound of chewing gum.

Feeling annoyed at certain voices mentioned above, makes it uncomfortable. Misophonia can even make a person feel not only mental but also physical stress. What causes a person to experience misophonia?

Reported by PsychCentral, Monday, February 21, researchers learned that misophonia is related to the work of neurons in the brain. Sensitive to sound to trigger a certain response, there are three definitions, one of which is misophonia. In the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder 5th Edition), misophonia is not a formal diagnosis. However, researchers have proposed criteria for diagnosing this phenomenon.

In addition to misophonia, there is a sound sensitivity condition that is defined differently. First, hyperacusis is a low sensitivity or tolerance for sound at a certain volume. Second, phonophobia is the fear of certain sounds.

Symptoms of misophonia will vary from person to person. But there are common physical and emotional signs. These signs are a response to certain sounds, such as sneezing and coughing. The reaction to this repeated sound, doesn't have to come from someone else. There are also people with misophonia who get irritated by the nasal sounds of animals.

Physical symptoms experienced by people with misophonia include pressure in the chest, sweating, increased heart rate, the urge to stop the sound, imitate the sound, to avoid situations where the sound is disturbing. A person may be constantly on alert if the sound appears. It can even trigger certain reactions.

A study conducted in 2021 looked into the causes of misophonia. One of them is the activity of neurons that mimic as if performing an action that causes a sound. This response is out of control so the impulse acts spontaneously.

MIsophonia is not an anxiety disorder, nor is it included in the category of anxiety symptoms. But people with misophonia can respond to sounds with symptoms of anxiety. Well, people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may experience noise sensitivity. In the opinion of the researcher, misophonia that stands alone is an aspect of sensory intolerance.

Ways to treat misophonia, by managing anger, anxiety, and irritation. With the help of a mental health professional, self-sensitivity to certain sounds can be overcome.