Disgust and helplessness: what people with misophonia feel. Research
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Many people are disgusted by everyday sounds. This phenomenon is called misophonia and is much more common than scientists thought. The research data, based on a survey in Great Britain, was published in PLOS ONE, writes Science Alert. “Misophonia is more than just being annoyed by certain sounds, it’s a feeling of being trapped or helpless, when you can’t tear yourself away from these sounds and because of it you’re missing out,” explains Jane Gregory, a clinical psychologist at the University of Oxford. 772 people participated in the study. They filled out a questionnaire about potential trigger sounds and their emotional reactions. Photo: RostyslavOleksin/Depositphotos Scientists have identified 5 aspects of misophonia: a sense of emotional threat; internal and external assessments; outbreak; influence. The researchers also interviewed 26 people who said they had misophonia and 29 people who didn’t. According to scientists, the prevalence of misophonia in Great Britain is 18.4%. Scientists have also discovered that there are a number of sounds that the general public does not like. Respondents called loud chewing the most repulsive, while other sounds caused irritation. But there were two key differences between people with misophonia and the general population. First: unpleasant sounds in people with misophonia are accompanied by a feeling of helplessness, being trapped. This leads to feelings of guilt, shame, anxiety and withdrawal, the researchers say. In addition, participants with this condition were more likely to be disturbed by sounds such as normal breathing and swallowing, whereas in the majority of the population they did not cause any reaction. Interestingly, before this experiment, only 14% of the people surveyed knew about misophonia. However, one in five people in Great Britain have more sensitive reactions to annoying sounds. The researchers’ new survey may be a useful tool to help other clinicians identify those with the condition. “Our findings suggest that misophonia is a relatively common condition, and further research is needed to determine at what point the condition becomes ‘disorderly’ in terms of distress, impact, and need for treatment,” the researchers conclude. Read also: Genes that helped humanity survive the plague affect us today – study
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