- This topic has 1 reply, 1 voice, and was last updated 4 years, 1 month ago by .
Viewing 2 posts - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)
Viewing 2 posts - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)
My story and why I set up this website
Your quick guide to misophonia
Sound triggers that ‘typically’ affect misophones
Take our (informal) misophonia test
Frequently asked questions
Websites, books and research programmes
News, coping techniques and more
See misophonia on the big screen
Misophonia featured in the news
Rarely updated stream of consciousness
Check out our misphonia support hub
Misophonia coping techniques you can try
Understanding how best to help a loved one
Professional treatment for misophonia
Read about people’s experiences
See your fellow readers’ creative exploits
Home Page › Forums › Misophonia Forum › Coping without headphones?
Earplugs make my ears hurt, so I usually use headphones, but there are a lot of places where I don’t want to seem rude. I’ve tried breathing strategies and all that, but it doesm’t work and I usually lash out. What do I do?
I have started using headphones at work, and I say to people before I put them on that it is the general office noise I struggle with (even though it is specific people who sniff, cough or talk with their mouths full. When people have colds this is worse and I feel as though I could burst with the build up of anger inside). Like you I feel bad and feel rude for feeling like this, but if I don’t wear my headphones, the alternative would be to just build up into a rage and foul temper and become so desperate that I would offend them anyway with my manner. Because I tell people I am putting the headphones on and I take them off regularly to interact with others, people are fine with it and it sometimes even makes them smile as a standing joke. I find this a better alternative to hurting their feelings and coming across as a misery. Also, just knowing I can escape the ‘trigger noises’ when I need to , by using the headphones, is reassuring and helps me to reduce my levels of frustration, as it is a strategy I know in advance I have up my sleeve when things become unbearable. I could not cope in my current office work environment without this, as I just end up with my stomach in knots and I feel the need to just up and leave. At the end of the day it is not curable, and so we all have to do whatever we can to manage/cope. Although not ideal, wearing headphones for me is certainly the lesser of 2 evils.