Misophonia

Bettahm · October 2023

Didnt realize this was a condition till a few years back. Thought it was just some weird thing with me.
Definitely a flight or fight thing with me. I get it visual as well as hearing.
Wondering if its linked to autism.

Hannah_Alumni · October 2023

Hello @Bettahm

I haven't heard of Misophonia before. I would recommend reaching out the the National Autistic Society for more information on a possible link

Bettahm · October 2023

Hannah_Scope said:

Hello @Bettahm

I haven't heard of Misophonia before. I would recommend reaching out the the National Autistic Society for more information on a possible link

Thanks for that.
It may be linked as kind of a sensory thing. Its hatred of small repetitive sounds, like clicking, chewing etc so that you have to get away or terminate the thing making it. Causes extreme anger and stress.
I get it visually like anyone with a nervous twitch or something. Cant look, have to get away.

Hannah_Alumni · October 2023

Have you thought about bringing it up with your GP? If you haven't already?

Bettahm · October 2023

Hannah_Scope said:

Have you thought about bringing it up with your GP? If you haven't already?

Theres nothing they can do about it. So it is like autism with that and the sensory thing.
I can no longer contact my gp. They have been so useless in the past and now with agoraphobia I cant go there or contact them. Just too stressful and overwhelming.

Albus_Scope · October 2023

Heya @Bettahm!

There's no real links between autism and misophonia, though many people who have issues with misophonia often exhibit elevated autistic traits.
Seeing as many autistic people have sensory sensitivities, it would make sense that it's seen more in autistic people, as we're more likely to raise it as a problem.

There's a very good article about it here if you fancy a read.

Bettahm · October 2023

Albus_Scope said:

Heya @Bettahm!

There's no real links between autism and misophonia, though many people who have issues with misophonia often exhibit elevated autistic traits.
Seeing as many autistic people have sensory sensitivities, it would make sense that it's seen more in autistic people, as we're more likely to raise it as a problem.

There's a very good article about it here if you fancy a read.

Thanks for that
Will take a look now
I am autistic which is why I thought maybe it was part of thatAlbus_Scope said:

Heya @Bettahm!

There's no real links between autism and misophonia, though many people who have issues with misophonia often exhibit elevated autistic traits.
Seeing as many autistic people have sensory sensitivities, it would make sense that it's seen more in autistic people, as we're more likely to raise it as a problem.

There's a very good article about it here if you fancy a read.

Interesting article!
I generally stuff cotton wool in my ears.
Though not really a problem now as I live alone and dont have hardly any contact with people.
And the visual one is for real too! Yes, fidgeting etc, cant look, have to get away.
Extreme anger and stress on both forms.
Definitely flight or fight!

WhatThe · October 2023

Hi Bettham,

As a very late-diagnosed autistic woman, I was astonished to discover that my sensory disorders had names and that most people did not experience what I did! Growing up with "Ignore her, she's only looking for attention.." and the like, then finding out I had a disability has been life-changing.

It was a battle to secure the diagnosis - "But you've managed all this time.." when I clearly had not but I would strongly recommend trying. The National Autistic Society provides excellent free leaflets about the diagnostic process and the notable differences between autistic female and male.

I had not heard of 'misphonia' until reading your post but I do know it was always there, so thank you for that. I wear earplugs and headphones now (indoors sometimes) which don't shield me from all noise but I need to be aware of things going on around me when I'm out.

Visual disorders as a child included astigmatism and short sight but I recently discovered another condition called 'kaleidoscope vision' which has caused me to need a rapid exit from supermarkets and buses. Wearing varifocals perhaps makes that worse but I do need to see!

Since my diagnosis, I spend more time in silence - particularly in darkness - to recover from activity and stress. It's the only thing that works for me.

Bettahm · October 2023

WhatThe said:

Hi Bettham,

As a very late-diagnosed autistic woman, I was astonished to discover that my sensory disorders had names and that most people did not experience what I did! Growing up with "Ignore her, she's only looking for attention.." and the like, then finding out I had a disability has been life-changing.

It was a battle to secure the diagnosis - "But you've managed all this time.." when I clearly had not but I would strongly recommend trying. The National Autistic Society provides excellent free leaflets about the diagnostic process and the notable differences between autistic female and male.

I had not heard of 'misphonia' until reading your post but I do know it was always there, so thank you for that. I wear earplugs and headphones now (indoors sometimes) which don't shield me from all noise but I need to be aware of things going on around me when I'm out.

Visual disorders as a child included astigmatism and short sight but I recently discovered another condition called 'kaleidoscope vision' which has caused me to need a rapid exit from supermarkets and buses. Wearing varifocals perhaps makes that worse but I do need to see!

Since my diagnosis, I spend more time in silence - particularly in darkness - to recover from activity and stress. It's the only thing that works for me.

Yes I'm autistic, late diagnosed. Like living on an alien planet all my life. Hated school, could never hold down a job. Have no family or friends. Now have mental health issues, depression, bad anxiety and agoraphobia. I'm grateful to have been blessed with my pets, who keep me going.

Albus_Scope · October 2023

This sounds very similar to me @Bettahm, even down to the myriad of pets. They're god sends aren't they?

Bettahm · October 2023

Albus_Scope said:

This sounds very similar to me @Bettahm, even down to the myriad of pets. They're god sends aren't they?

Absolutely!
Wouldn't be without them
They really are a Blessing

WhatThe · October 2023

There's no real links between autism and misophonia -

Albus, very little research into autism itself might explain that. I'm as old as the NAS but didn't encounter this condition in 35+ years of medical treatment and therapy.

We actually have around 8 or 9 senses and more are being identified by scientists. There's so much yet to be learned from the other experts - autistic people

Jimm_Alumni · October 2023

My partner has misophonia, while she isn't diagnosed with autism it's been something she's considered getting assessed for. While there's no directly discovered connection, there certainly could be a correlation? From my basic understanding of autism some symptoms can be struggling with sensory input, which is what misophonia is in a way?

Bettahm · October 2023

Jimm_Scope said:

My partner has misophonia, while she isn't diagnosed with autism it's been something she's considered getting assessed for. While there's no directly discovered connection, there certainly could be a correlation? From my basic understanding of autism some symptoms can be struggling with sensory input, which is what misophonia is in a way?

They seem to still know so little about autism. I have the autism diagnosis and have misophonia the hearing problem and the visual one described above. So as it's all sensory suspect maybe a strong link... Though I have alexithymia and you can have that without having autism but a lot of people on the spectrum do have it.

Jimm_Alumni · October 2023

As smart as the brain can be we understand very little about it! It's no surprise that something so complex can also be so variant, we're only now really digging into those differences between all our brains.

Bettahm · October 2023

Jimm_Scope said:

As smart as the brain can be we understand very little about it! It's no surprise that something so complex can also be so variant, we're only now really digging into those differences between all our brains.

Maybe I will start another thread sometime for alexithymia and see who has that and their experiences
I learnt something from this thread, that the visual misophonia is a real thing with it's own name

WhatThe · October 2023

Jimm,

The autistic triad of impairments is firmly established - sensory, communication and personal/medical with varying and variable degrees of each.

As Chris Packham says "If you've met one autistic person, you've met one autistic person". He explained in a candid documentary what few of us can about this condition.

Bettham,
I've never heard of alexithymia either! I know we struggle to regulate emotions which affects our hormones, temperature, appetite, behaviour.. My brain becomes scrambled - that's how I describe it

Bettahm · October 2023

WhatThe said:

Jimm,

The autistic triad of impairments is firmly established - sensory, communication and personal/medical with varying and variable degrees of each.

As Chris Packham says "If you've met one autistic person, you've met one autistic person". He explained in a candid documentary what few of us can about this condition.

Bettham,
I've never heard of alexithymia either! I know we struggle to regulate emotions which affects our hormones, temperature, appetite, behaviour.. My brain becomes scrambled - that's how I describe it

@WhatThe
I'@WhatThe
I'll start a new discussion, see how many people here have it and their experiences

Misophonia

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