Whether or not Misophonia is actually a sub-set of SPD (such as SOR, or sensory over-regulation) remains to be seen.
Misophonia, SPD, and other sensory related issues can seem as though they have stolen your life. Mental disorders such as OCD, Depression, Anxiety, ADHD, or others can hijack the situation and turn it into a bitter pill to swallow. But, it’s not entirely hopeless. Actually, I’d be willing to say it’s not hopeless at all.
When I first discovered that I had Misophonia I spent a lot of time in my house. I became isolated by my strong desire to protect myself. After all, who wouldn’t want to avoid a traumatic situation? Though, as this behaviour continued I noticed a pattern. The more I tried to avoid triggers, the more I was triggered. Not only that, the severity was growing. At first, I attributed this to a hopeless reality: this disorder was getting worse and would eventually take over all aspects of my life.
In the past month I have done several things that I never expected to do again. Trapped and isolated in my disorder, I had waged war against all unnecessary public behavior. I mean, I shopped, but that’s not exactly a sincere socialization process. I have gone to a restaurant 6 or 7 times, previously I avoided this like the plague – now, I’m less inclined to say no to a friend. After all, life’s short. I went to the movies. A 3D movie with popcorn eaters and all (luckily chewing is a rare trigger for me, but still, I got past the anxiety).
There is not going to be a ‘one size fits all’ cure for Misophonia. The disorder, like SPD, is complex. Each and every sufferer is going to have their own past experiences, their own desires, and their own fears. Work with that. Identify who you are and where you’re triggered. Do you feel worse when you’re tired/dehydrated? Are certain foods making it worse? Explore and listen to your body – literally. It may be trying to have a conversation with you.
Personally, I have been exploring the benefits of a sensory diet. This can be found here. It is written by Susan Nesbit, O.T. Who, by the way, is an amazing woman!
