journeys-of-miso

[journeys-of-miso]

Also I forgot to post this one

(Definitely gonna do a more InDepth post for this for this AU)

But I was inspired by a few other AUs, namely Anxiety sans by @hheisa and ADHD sans by @/gudulle

Seeing other people make sans AUs with disorders inspired me to make one based of a disorder I struggle with but not many people know about,

So meet Misophonia sans!!

Misophonia (also known as Selective Sound Sensitivity Disorder) is an Anxiety disorder (thought to be a negative cousin of Synesthesia and also had heavy links to PTSD) where the sufferer, upon hearing certain triggering noises, with go into a full blown panic attack,

The response can vary from person to person and even just day to day, but most common are the urge to flee the situation, cry/shut down or attack the person making the triggering noise in an attempt to silence them

Most common triggering noises are related to chewing or breathing, I myself can accidentally set myself off from my own breathing and it’s horrible, (also a common misconception is it being the loud noises that trigger Misophonics, but more often then not it’s the quieter sounds) though this is actually quite different from the noises that regular people get upset by

There’s a huge difference in being annoyed by a sound verse actively trying to deafen one’s self to avoid the trigger noises

Also, side note, if someone tells you they’re struggling with Misophonia and you think it’s okay to deliberately make their trigger sounds to upset them please block my account and never interact with me, you are deplorable.

Anyway, I can’t explain all about Misophonia in a single post with a rough sketch, so i implore you to go research some more on your own, but I will definitely be making more posts about this lil guy

Ps: some of the only slightly positive/interesting news about Misophonia is that it’s been found Misophonics usually seem to have a stronger positive reaction to music then non Misophonics :D

#they summed it up perfectly #misophonia #actually misophonic #selective sound sensitivity syndrome

[journeys-of-miso]

As we are violently thrust into allergy season - and with it, disgusting amounts of sniffling and nose-dragging and coughing and throat clearing - here are some tips and tricks to help you not lose your mind :)

- Always have some gum with you. The sound of your own chewing will help to block out the sound of everything else!

- If you have long hair, wear it down. It helps to block your peripheral vision, which makes it easier to try to ignore people making mouth sounds so you don't snap and them and sound like a crazy person.

- Bring backup ear protection! I usually have headphones on, but headphones can die. So in addition to the headphones, I have 2 pairs of earbuds and 3 pairs of earplugs in my bag, plus a portable battery to charge my headphones (which I have had to use before).

- Also, know how to make makeshift earplugs (just in case). You will need gum for this! Depending on how big your ears are, chew up 2-3 pieces of gum until they're soft enough to easily mold, but not too soft to easily hold a shape. Wrap in paper towel/aluminum foil (just enough to cover the gum so it won't stick to anything) and stick it in your ear.

*this is not foolproof, and I wouldn't recommend doing it on a regular basis because there is still a potential that gum will get stuck in your ear, but it has gotten me out of some emergency situations.

- Remember that these people are not trying to hurt you. They don't know that you have misophonia, and don't realize that their sounds affect you. They have no malicious intent towards you.

-Keep on feeling the love,

🧸𝑀𝒾𝓈𝑜🧸

#hyperacusis #misophonia #hearingdisorder #mental health #selfcare #allergies #allergy season #allergyseason #seasonal allergies #hearing #selective sound sensitivity syndrome #tips #life hacks #sorry's it been so long since i posted #also sorry for long-ish post #have a potato🥔

[journeys-of-miso]

Hi <3

I'm working on a longer post right now, but in the meantime, I just wanted to say:

It's okay if whatever you're going through makes you want to cry. And it's okay if you do cry. You feel what you feel, and you need to release those feelings to feel better.

#hyperacusis #misophonia #hearingdisorder #mental health #selfcare #feelings #crying

[journeys-of-miso]

Your Perception of Sound is Valid

I think I've mentioned this already, but one of the problems of misophonia and hyperacusis is that they can be very isolating. Why? Because it's negatively warping your perception of sound in such a way that nobody else is hearing. And especially if the person has not yet realized that they have a hearing disorder, when they react negatively to the sound that nobody else even notices, it can drive them crazy! Because in their mind, they're being overwhelmed by sounds that other people have no problem with, not knowing that the perception is very different.

Here's the thing. Pain will already make you more sensitive to all of the different factors in your environment. But hyperacusis and misophonia both mean that your brain cannot filter out background sounds - it's focusing on them the same way to focuses on the sounds you're supposed to be hearing. So when your brain is getting all that feedback and information at once, it gets overwhelmed very easily in situations in which a person with normal hearing would have no problem.

Something interesting I've noticed about this factor is that people with hyperacusis and misophonia tend to have excellent hearing. Ironically enough, however, it will end up seeming like they have very bad hearing. I'm going to explain it the best way I can:

Imagine you're walking on the street with somebody that has hyperacusis. Assuming you have normal hearing, you're still hearing all of the sounds that are going on in the street, but they're not your focus. Your brain can successfully push these sounds to the back burner, so that you're aware of them, but not trying to actively process them.

A person that has hyperacusis either cannot do this at all or cannot do it at a high enough level. This means that all of the sounds in an environment - cars honking, doors opening, footsteps - they're all being heard on the same level as the conversation you're having with that person! They can't push sounds to the back burner. Either their back burner is too small, or all of their burners are in a row in front of them, and they have to look at all of them at once. They have no back burner.

Now, this is not to be confused with misophonia. In the case of a person that only has misophonia, they might be able to push sounds to the back burner - except for their trigger sounds. These sounds are on the back burner until they are noticed. They are then involuntarily pulled to the front burner so quickly that they spill on the person with misophonia, leaving them with scalding burns and a friend that wants to know "why you're being so dramatic, they're just eating."

So, to everyone with misophonia and hyperacusis: if anyone tells you you're being dramatic, or something's not that loud, or whatever, ignore them. Your hearing is different, so your perception is different. Perception is reality. They aren't experiencing what you're experiencing.

-Keep on feeling the love,

🧸𝑀𝒾𝓈𝑜🧸

#misophonia #hyperacusis #hearing #perception #perceptionisreality #example #understanding #mental health #isolating #selective sound sensitivity syndrome #selfcare #sorry for the long post #here's a potato 🥔 #image credit @http://fabulousfashions4sensiblestyle.blogspot.com/

[journeys-of-miso]

Find a Way To Express Yourself

Hello!

So, I'm in therapy, but that's a once a week thing, and if not covered by your insurance, its pretty darn expensive. So find a medium to express your emotions 🩷

I like to write and draw (I'm writing right now actually, lol)

Some people like to play music, which I actually did do before my ears started getting worse. Some people sing, dance, etc. As long as you're not harming anybody else or yourself, go for it!

Something about that I think is important to mention is not to feel like you have to be the best at your hobby, or even really good at it. It just has to be something that you enjoy doing. Don't compare yourself to others - you just need to be happy.

Some ideas for hobbies:

- Reading

- Writing

- Drawing

- Playing/listening to music

- Sports (I do volleyball🏐)

- Cooking

- Arts and crafts

- Self-care

And more!

- Keep on feeling the love,

𝓜𝓲𝓼𝓸🧸

#mental health #hobbies #self care #therapy #hyperacusis #misophonia #hearingdisorder #hobby stuff

[journeys-of-miso]

Misophonia Youtube📽️

So a lot of the time, I find myself watching videos on mute because you never know when somebody's going to pull up with a dramatic lip smack, or coughing, sniffling, or worse - a surprise ASMR video showing up in your feed. Ick!!

But I've found something - I've made a breakthrough! The best misophonia channel on Youtube that I have ever found is Doctor Ali Mattu! He describes misophonia in such an accurate and detailed way. Not only that, I've watched his videos - no lip-smacking, no sharp S sounds, no wet-mouth-opening-into-an-inhale (if you know you know)

Here's a link to one of his videos:

Fun Fact: Misophonia is sometimes referred to as Selective Sound Sensitivity Syndrome.

ALSO I would just like to add that watching vent tiktoks may seem cringe but at long as it makes you feel better its perfectly fine💕

-Keep on feeling the love,

🧸𝑀𝒾𝓈𝑜🧸

#not proofread #we die like men #even tho im not a man lol #misophonia #youtube #vent #tiktok #mental health #selfcare #asmr #drali on youtube #:) pain #Youtube

[journeys-of-miso]

If you're in school, seek accommodations!

Hi!

In one of my earlier posts, I mentioned invisible disabilities - ones that aren't visible (like a wheelchair or prosthetic would be) but still impact a person's quality of life and could hinder them in certain situations.

The negative effects of a disability tend to be more pronounced in a learning setting - like school. Thus, most schools are actually required to provide accommodations for disabilities.*

A lot of people tend to think that accomodations are the same for every disability, and thus that they shouldn't bother trying to get them. But this is not the case! Every disability is different, and thus the accommodations will be different as well.

I, for example, am still in school. My disability makes it difficult for me to participate in and focus during group work. And if somebody's eating during class, I won't even be able to function. These factors hinder my learning experience, so my school provides unique accommodations that are specific to my needs.

I can wear headphones, earbuds, or earplugs in class I can leave the classroom if I am experiencing sensory overload I have preferential seating I have extended time on assessments and tests

Never feel like you're being dramatic or making a fuss when asking for accommodations! These are necessary for you to have a good experience, and you are entitled to them.

*accommodations and the formalities/documentation needed to acquire them vary depending on your location and your level of schooling, so make sure to consult a guidance counselor or trusted adult in your school to find out what actions need to be taken.

- keep on feeling the love,

🧸𝑀𝒾𝓈𝑜🧸

#hyperacusis #misophonia #hearingdisorder #accommodation #school #schooltips #anxiety #selfcare #accomodations #disabled #disability #invisible disability

[journeys-of-miso]

See a doctor for an official diagnosis🩺

I'm not saying you shouldn't do research on your symptoms. You totally should! That's how you figure out that something's wrong, and learn about coping mechanisms that can help until you can treatment.

However, it's important not to operate solely off of a self-diagnosis. It's all too easy to mistake one thing for another, and this can have dire consequences. Oftentimes, two conditions with very similar symptoms will have very different causes (e.g., a psychological vs physical cause) which means that they will have very different treatments.

For example: Misophonia is primarily neurological, dealing with how your brain is wired. But hyperacusis can usually be traced to a certain physical event that caused it, and can even be treated with surgery if therapy doesn't work.

Doctors are much more qualified to figure out what's wrong, taking into account not only the details of symptoms, but how they might manifest in different individuals. They are also more qualified to give you different ✨tips and tricks✨ to cope, and recommend treatments to minimize (or hopefully eliminate) the problem.

You deserve proper care! See a doctor - it can make all the difference.

- keep on feeling the love,

🧸𝑀𝒾𝓈𝑜🧸

#hyperacusis #hearingdisorder #misophonia #diagnosis #doctor #medicalcare #selfdiagnosis #image credit @Momma Healing on Pinterest

[journeys-of-miso]

You mention seeing your symptoms online and then figuring out that you had hyperacusis and misophonia, did you ever get it comfirmed by a professional?

( this is out of curiosity and not a means to gatekeep or invalidate what you say; I've only ever encountered people who had a hyperacusis diagnosis dumped on them by a medical professional )

Hi! Thanks for the ask💕

Yes, I have had it confirmed by a medical professional. I visited an audiologist at Northwell. It was there that I was officially diagnosed. Following which I was referred to see the ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) doctor and the neurologist. I was sent for tests to rule out any other possible issues. Both the audiologist and neurologist recommend that I see a hyperacusis and misophonia specialist. (The neurologist also said I was overly anxious, probably because of the hearing 🫠) I'm currently seeing a therapist who specializes in hyperacusis and misophonia. I was actually at therapy when I saw your ask!

#hyperacusis #hearingdisorder #misophonia #anxiety #diagnosis #self diagnosers

[journeys-of-miso]

Toxic Positivity - keyword: toxic

Another thing I find important is not viewing this as something to be ashamed of. I found myself trying to hide my condition from people, dodging questions about why I always had my headphones on, or why I would leave the room when people ate. But to get over this, I had to change my way of thinking:

Misophonia and hyperacusis are not made up. You are not being dramatic, and people will not make fun of you for it (and if they do, they're objectively terrible.) These are invisible disabilities, and they are just as valid as visible ones.

Something else I had to get over was a toxic positivity mindset - specifically, "It could be worse."

Whenever I would hear this, I would minimize whatever I was going through. I would say to myself, "at least I don't have depression," or "at least I still have my sight!" I was hoping it would make me feel better, but surprise, surprise:

It didn't.

Your suffering may not be as bad as someone else's. But it's still bad It still hurts. It still makes life difficult. Those feelings are valid, and they deserve to be heard. So don't ever let anyone tell you that your feelings aren't valid just because someone else might feel worse.

-Keep on feeling the love,

🧸𝑀𝒾𝓈𝑜🧸

#misophonia #hyperacusis #hearingdisorder #toxic positivity #validation #it could be worse #image credit @doodledwellness

[journeys-of-miso]

Keeping a positive mindset <3

Something I think is super important is always staying positive. When I was diagnosed, I found myself drowning in negativity. It didn't help that every article I read always had to talk about how it was so rare or how there was no cure.

What they forgot to mention was that just because these things aren't curable doesn't mean that they aren't manageable.

Not getting rid of something ≠ Not being able to live with it

I've learned to keep a positive attitude toward my misophonia and hyperacusis. For one thing, I refer to it as my... (drumroll please)

✨ear dazzle✨

Something else that I found helpful (if not a little silly) is viewing is my own real-life superpower (superhearing, ofc😅)

These kinds of things might seem silly, but it's little things like those that take things from unbearable to manageable.

Anything that helps you is a step forward, towards a happier, healthier you - and that's all that matters.

-Keep on feeling the love,

🧸𝑀𝒾𝓈𝑜🧸

#image credit @findingpoeta on instagram #misophonia #hyperacusis #hearing disorder #anxiety #mental health #eardazzle #coping mechanism

[journeys-of-miso]

Intro :)

TRIGGER WARNING: listing audio and visual triggers of misophonia (will be indicated with ❗)

Hi!

I was diagnosed with misophonia the summer before I began high school. This led to a lot of emotions that I'm still trying to deal with.

It was a relief, first of all - I think that this problem had been slowly developing for years. When I hit puberty, I got moody - angry at everyone like a typical teenager. So my parents assumed that my symptoms were just that (I don't blame them at all. I would have done the same thing). But deep down, I knew something was wrong:

❗The sound of eating shouldn't fill me with rage.

❗Silverware on a plate shouldn't make me cry.

❗And every time my teacher smacks their lips as they lecture should not make me want to run far, far away.

As I got older, all my mood swings and volatile temperament passed - but my sensitivities remained. Everything felt excruciatingly loud. I kept my headphones on whenever I could, trying my best to drown out sound. I couldn't eat dinner with my family anymore - I couldn't be near anyone that was eating.

I would be in a relatively quiet classroom, and yet my senses would be overwhelmed.

❗My teacher's lips smacking every time she opens her mouth to speak.

❗Calculator cases scraping against laminated desks.

❗Tired students yawning every other minute - with their mouths wide open, of course.

❗Kids chomping on gum and shaking their legs.

It was a horrible way to live. I couldn't figure out what was wrong. I felt isolated, scared, and exhausted.

So I did some research. I typed in my symptoms and spent a whole lot of time trying to figure out what was wrong. At first, I thought I had auditory processing disorder, but my symptoms were too specific.

So I went deeper.

I realized that I had hyperacusis: a disorder in loudness perception.

But that wasn't all. I also had misophonia. The dictionary definition is "a condition in which... common sounds... cause an atypical emotional response (such as disgust, distress, panic, or anger) in the affected person hearing the sound." While this definition is accurate, I feel that there is no way to truly make others understand how difficult and painful this is to live with. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

As I've learned about my condition, I've found ways to cope - from earplugs, headphones, brown noise, and meetings with teachers about accommodations. Even if I have to live with this for the rest of my life, this does not define me. It does not make me any less of a person, and most importantly, it is not my fault.

As I venture on, learning more about myself and my condition along the way, I'll record it on this blog. My hope is that people struggling with this condition (or others) will find comfort in knowing that they are not alone, and can use some of my own coping mechanisms.

-Keep on feeling the love,

🧸𝑀𝒾𝓈𝑜🧸

#misophnia #hearingdisorder #hyperacusis #mentalhealth #ears #relatable #copingmechanisms #selfcare #anxiety