MISOPHONIA TOOLBOX
The Misophonia Toolbox is a comprehensive guide designed to assist you through the University of South Florida’s Tinnitus, Hyperacusis, and Misophonia Clinic. It
offers a variety of evidenced-based strategies to help you manage your reactions to misophonic sounds.
Call 813-974-8804 to make an appointment.
Misophonia is a disorder of decreased tolerance to specific sounds or stimuli associated with such sounds. These stimuli, known as “triggers,” are experienced as unpleasant or distressing and tend to evoke strong negative emotional, physiological, and behavioral responses that are not seen in most other people. Misophonic responses do not seem to be elicited by the loudness of auditory stimuli, but rather by the specific pattern or meaning to an individual. Trigger stimuli are often repetitive and primarily, but not exclusively, include stimuli generated by another individual, especially those produced by the human body. Once a trigger stimulus is detected, individuals with misophonia may have difficulty distracting themselves from the stimulus and may experience suffering, distress, and/or impairment in social, occupational, or academic functioning. The expression of misophonic symptoms varies, as does the severity, which ranges from mild to severe impairments. Some individuals with misophonia are aware that their reactions to misophonic trigger stimuli are disproportionate to the circumstances. Misophonia symptoms are typically first observed in childhood or early adolescence. (Swedow et al., 2022)
No, we cannot cure misophonia. There is ongoing research across multiple
universities and institutions including the University of South Florida, but we are not there yet. There are no medications, supplements, or homeopathy that consistently and specifically work for misophonia.
Managing misophonia effectively involves several key strategies designed to enhance understanding, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being. These strategies include:
1. Education: Understanding misophonia is crucial. Education helps
demystify the condition, providing you with the knowledge needed to manage it effectively. This empowers you, fosters a sense of control, and encourages adherence to management strategies.
2. Sound Therapy: Using sound enrichment can help mask or reduce
the impact of misophonic triggers. This supportive background noise can gradually reduce attention to triggers and promote emotional acceptance.
3. Self-Regulation Techniques: Implementing self-regulation techniques can increase resilience to stress, boost happiness, and improve overall well-being. These techniques include practices like progressive muscle relaxation, exercise, yoga, meditation, and mindful breathing exercises.