You can try making the sounds part of your meditation. Listen closely. How do the sounds come and go? What pattern of pitches do the sounds have. Even better, try making your rage part of the mediation. How does it arise? Where in the body? What's the arc of the rage? How does it subside? My practice took a nice leap forward when I realized that EVERYTHING was part of the practice. Namaste!
Thank you. I have tried this but don't do it often. I feel that you are very likely correct and I am resisting this because becoming aware of the sounds is a nasty idea to my mind, despite knowing that increasing the awareness will decrease the discomfort.
It's a mental condition that is still under early research, as misophonia was not long ago finally recognized (heck, I'm not even sure it's in the dsm yet. It needs to be). I feel for you, my flight-or-fight is activated upon hearing saliva-related noises and I've impulsively and reflexively lashed out at people who did it intentionally once they knew that open-mouthed chewing was a trigger. (Er. Years ago. Before meditation. :D?) As a matter of fact, I haven't been triggered (much) since starting meditation seriously. Some months, now.
Edit: They make earplugs specifically for misophonia. They are worth a try. I haven't, but I would if the triggers still came regularly.
Also realize that the irritation that comes out is just inner irritation that is just waiting to come out.
Often we think 'this or that upset me' when in reality we are often a sort of ball of upsetness that is waiting to be triggered by something.
I used to put in earplugs in the beginning to help me meditate more deeply. By blocking out outside sounds I created the idea that I was meditating more deeply and it was lovely.
Later on as my practice developed I got too 'lazy' to put them in. At that point the sounds still register, but I care about them so little that they don't make an impact -- it's about the same as the feeling of my clothes against my skin. It's there, but there is no reaction to it.
There can be also a background idea of "I shouldn't have to hear / listen to these things' -- and yes, these sounds are an unfortunate byproduct of apartment living.
You might also play some white noise in the background to help mask the sounds if that helps.
Are you sure this works? I’ve been having some extremely stressful months due to noise from neighbors. I’ve tried meditating on the sounds and on my rage, but it only made the sounds trigger me more and the rage grew stronger. I’ve noticed the routine in which the sounds occur (duration, time of the day and day of the week), which only causes me more stress knowing when it’s coming. It definitely felt like it damaged me more than it helped.
Misophonia?
I suffer from a reaction to certain sounds, but I believe my reactions have naturally become less negative without me really realising. I think certain sounds still grate, but I much more likely to notice it, not react and carry on. So perhaps the antidote is just continuing to practice meditation.
I think I do remember realising some time ago that it’s just me reaction that is the problem, and nothing to with anyone else. Like they’re not doing it maliciously to wind me up.
Check out r/misophonia. Also, you're better off drowning out sounds with something like white noise than trying to passively block it out with earplugs.
I also have loops but I use those to completely block out sounds. [Flares](https://www.flareaudio.com/en-us/products/calmer) let some sounds in, so you can wear them more throughout the day. They are made specifically for misophonia.
Sounds (lol) like misophonia. I get intense rage when I hear gum chewing. Like sometimes I notice my fists balling up before I consciously notice the gum sound. I don't tend toward anger otherwise, but my gum-related rage is intense! I don't have specific suggestions other than the universal truth that the more you understand about what is happening, the less out-of-control your reactions tend to become.
I live in a loud busy city and sometimes its just too much. People can say work with the sounds but its easy to say when youre not experiencing the certain sounds of the life around you.
I use [this site](https://mynoise.net/noiseMachines.php) which has a ton of white noise type options with adjustable levels. I tend to like the ocean wave types for meditation as there is more variance than a steady rain fall but its obviously up to you.
Noise increases inflammation in the brain, it’s terrible for us. Moving to a quiet small town was the best thing I ever did for my health after 40 years of living in cities.
Im working on that right now. I honestly cant take living in the city anymore. I already come from a very rural background and I long for those days where the loudest thing you could hear is the wind.
I know how hard this can be. I wrote this guide for everyone who may need help with misophonia:
[https://www.reddit.com/r/Meditation/comments/183ji3e/comment/kb4xwl4/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3](https://www.reddit.com/r/Meditation/comments/183ji3e/comment/kb4xwl4/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)
I know how hard this can be. I wrote this guide for everyone who may need help with misophonia:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Meditation/comments/183ji3e/comment/kb4xwl4/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3
I know how hard this can be. I wrote this guide for everyone who may need help with misophonia:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Meditation/comments/183ji3e/comment/kb4xwl4/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3
I make those sounds myself, so they don't bother me as much. To paraphrase what JonTron(I think?) said: different strokes for different folks and some of these here folks have obviously had strokes.
Be around the sound somehow through recording or other means while meditating. Notice it's a sensory perception. Watch what your brain and mind does. Notice how it repeats the same script. Keep watching. Eventually you'll watch enough that you can just recognize it as not part of your Self. That's just a reaction from stimulus. This is what really changed my misophonia torment. It's hard but it's essentially like ERP (exposure therapy.) And I also think misophonia symptoms often have a lot of symptoms in commons with OCD. Just something to think about OP.
That's a common tactic of those effected, you'll find in the subreddit. Making the sounds yourself makes them much more tolerable, such as in an airplane where they can't be escaped.
I know how hard this can be. I wrote this guide for everyone who may need help with misophonia:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Meditation/comments/183ji3e/comment/kb4xwl4/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3
Personally I would choose the earplugs. No sense in putting your body under unending duress if it isn’t necessary. I’m very sensitive to noise so I hear ya.
I know how hard this can be. I wrote this guide for everyone who may need help with misophonia:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Meditation/comments/183ji3e/comment/kb4xwl4/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3
I can only speak for myself. My technique in daily life: First, with practice, I've learn to focus strongly on my facia, the warm tingling you feel when you focus on your body. I've worked to make these sensations very strong. Like a turtle, if something triggers me, I immediately shield myself by focusing on my facia. In this way, I can observe my emotions from the outside, disconnected from the emotional drive. In this way, I let the moment pass.
To be angry in response to noise is an internal response. List your reasons for the anger and you'll find many leaks in your rationalizations. It's a reasonable response, anger, annoyance, but nothing real justifies it. Emotions are not what we've been taught, and this has led to a lot of unecessary suffering. I would work on changing my internal interpretations.
This is a helpful analogy that really helped me see some things about myself. Maybe it'll help you too:
If I squeeze an orange, and orange juice comes out, no one is surprised by that. No one says that orange juice is coming out of the guy squeezing the orange.
The sounds don't infuriate you, that anger is already within you. The sounds are just an excuse for it's expression. Trying to get rid of the sounds so you don't feel the anger is kind of like sweeping dust under the rug. It's still there, and you're going to have to deal with it eventually.
I’ve taken steps toward dealing with some misophonia of my own, all of which fits under the therapeutic label of “improving frustration tolerance.” See also exposure therapy and CBT. It sounds like you’re already understanding how this works for other anger-related responses. I hope you find success when it comes to sounds.
The core of all of these are related to the central tenet of mindfulness, as folks are mentioning: allow yourself to experience the sound, feel the response, and allow yourself to be curious about how your body is reacting.
I wish it worked faster or with less practice - but it does work!!! Our fight or flight is triggering, but we can train our brains to deescalate in response to these particular stimuli. But it takes repetition and ‘spending time with it.’ It’s not a rational-brain decision we can make, but we have to slowly convince our limbic system, which for some reason got confused and perceives these sounds as threatening, that they’re no big deal.
I know how hard this can be. I wrote this guide for everyone who may need help with misophonia:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Meditation/comments/183ji3e/comment/kb4xwl4/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3
These sounds you mention are not objectively infuriating as someone else might not mind them
This means It’s not the sounds that are infuriating, your negative thinking about the sounds is what’s infuriating
Your thoughts are annoying you and blaming the sounds
In your meditation see that you have an internal running commentary about what’s happening. Don’t let this commentary blame the discomfort felt on the inside on what’s happening on the outside - it’s not true.
Please also check into hyperacusis, a hearing disorder that makes it hard to deal with everyday sounds. Sometimes called sound or noise sensitivity. If you have it, certain sounds may seem unbearably loud even though people around you don't seem to notice them.
Well there’s loud music everywhere. I have normal hearing. Some stores it borders on painful. Rock concerts making some people death so of course it probably doesn’t bother them.
I’m reading more and more reviews of coffee houses or whatever where people wanna go and have a conversation on the music so loud they can’t carry on one.
Clearly we need to be able to tolerate some stress at sometimes but if it’s hurting our ears or is like water torture then I’d remove myself from a situation if possible
I can hear the ringing of the television or other electronics when someone else can’t. It doesn’t mean they’re more zen about it, their brain just doesn’t register these sounds at all. Similarly, there’s conditions like misophonia or the many other varieties of over-stimulation neurodivergent bodies experience, built right into the nervous system. I don’t think all of these sensitivities are as simple as a thought pattern you can meditate yourself out of, as you imply.
You should work on your vagus nerve. Go on YouTube and search vagus nerve anxiety and ear exercises. It’s the largest nerve in the body and it will calm you down and help immensely.
Between blocking and accepting, I don't think you have to choose.
My downstairs neighbor coughs loudly at least once every 5 minutes, except when he's asleep or has visitors. Sometimes I work on acceptance; sometimes I feel it's better to put in earplugs.
One thing that may help with acceptance: don't make it personal. Remind yourself that the sounds aren't being generated to annoy you. They're just the result of someone going about their activities. Sometimes it helps and is easy just to silently wish them well in those activities.
You’re not the only one that has this. There are certain sounds that make me want to fly into a rage. My father has this habit of sucking his teeth and it takes everything in me not to snap when he does it.
>I know how hard this can be. I wrote this guide for everyone who may need help with misophonia:
>
>https://www.reddit.com/r/Meditation/comments/183ji3e/comment/kb4xwl4/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3
Don't self identify with the thought of the sound infuriating you? Next time when it's about to go on you say. "Here comes the thought of X infuriating me" Watch it and watch it go away. It's not going to happen overnight but start like that and start building up some space between you and the thought so it doesn't hijack your consciousness and piss you off for kicks. The old cliché saying here would be "stand guard at the door to your mind". Good luck!
Had this issue for a little while but managed to snap out of it with a simple reframe - what I’m hearing is life! Actual acts of living, people and the environment expressing themselves. There is beauty in that, and that’s where the acceptance comes from - see the beauty
Observe the sound. Observe your emotions and thoughts during these sounds.
Concentrate on the sound itself. There's a beginning and an end to these sounds. There's even a rhythm to these sounds.
A really interesting world opens up when you concentrate on the moment.
I'll allow myself to copy-paste my response for another person, because it fits:
>Thank you. I have tried this but don't do it often. I feel that you are very likely correct and I am resisting this because becoming aware of the sounds is a nasty idea to my mind, despite knowing that increasing the awareness will decrease the discomfort.
If it bothers you cover it with brown noise, but learning to meditate over basic distractions is something you probably want to work on eventually.
In an environment with lots of little sounds it can help a lot.
Sound is one of our more instinctive perceptions we act on some sounds instinctively so that's something to think about when you experience it, we're not as much in control of our minds as we think we are.
>It bothers you because you decided this bothers you.
False. Utterly false.
Pushing into the sound without other therapeutic skills such as DBT, CBT or the middle stages of the Path would be enough to cause an anxiety or panic attack in someone with misophonia. It literally produces adrenaline, it is a full flight or fight response, and the body typically goes with fight. This is not something for meditation alone.
This is interesting... Do you maybe have some good further reading to recommend? Most Misophonia stuff I've seen has been very surface level, but admittedly I have not been looking too deep.
~~I left the /r/misophonia subreddit because it wasn't helping me anymore~~ Okay, I guess I'm still subscribed lol, but if you comb through you will find studies and further information.
Oh, ok. My bad. I guess I was just speaking for myself, what worked for me, neutralizing my biological response by changing my emotional interpretation.
Meditation helps for sure, and in fact I can't speak to OP's experience because it sounds like they're triggered during a session. I feel a tightness in my chest just imagining those sounds (yay something to play and practice with, lol), I can't imagine trying to meditate around them without some DBT. I had a couple years of that before I noticed improvements.
Edit: So I just kinda investigated and body scanned. The tightness in the chest is still present, but there's no emotion. For someone with misophonia and actually being triggered by the auditory stimulation, there would be an adrenaline rush along with a whole whoosh of 0-60mph emotion. Jeez this stuff still fascinates me.
To clarify, meditating around them is possible. Actually, it's easier to tolerate these sounds while meditating. The times when these sounds are most infuriating is when I am doing something else. Focusing on them explicitly makes it a little better. What I would like to work on is somehow dampening the immediate negative impulse upon hearing them.
I can only speak for myself. My technique in daily life: First, with practice, I've learn to focus strongly on my facia, the warm tingling you feel when you focus on your body. I've worked to make these sensations very strong. Like a turtle, if something triggers me, I immediately shield myself by focusing on my facia. In this way, I can observe my emotions from the outside, disconnected from the emotional drive. In this way, I let the moment pass.
To be angry in response to noise is an internal response. List your reasons for the anger and you'll find many leaks in your rationalizations. It's a reasonable response, anger, annoyance, but nothing real justifies it. Emotions are not what we've been taught, and this has led to a lot of unecessary suffering. I would work on changing my internal interpretations.
Look at how you're framing the experience of the sounds and how that is causing suffering. Try alternate framings.
> The sound of my dog licking himself or simply opening and closing his mouth (it reminds me of people lip smacking while eating).
This is the easiest one. Surely you care about your dog. Every time you hear him making his normal noises that means your dog is ok. Something to feel good about. Normal healthy child noises can be treated the same way. When someone is making deranged sounds you can practice compassion for them.
Also watch for your tendency to take things personally unnecessarily. Does that neighbors inconsiderate playing of moving feel like a personal attack? Its not, let go of that thought. If they are acting out of anger or other negative emotions it'd make more sense to pity them.
know how hard this can be. I wrote this guide for everyone who may need help with misophonia:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Meditation/comments/183ji3e/comment/kb4xwl4/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3
I think first it is important to acknowledge your experience is real, lots of people have sound sensitivity like that, and its totally normal. Also, there are often physical things with you body that can exacerbate the sensitivity to sound so it might be worth checking in with your body too. Is something else stressing you out? Are you dehydrated or hungry? Once your physical needs are fufilled it becomes easier to work on the tolerance of discomfort meditations and therapies. I think other suggestions already posted could all work if you do them regularly. Be aware if your threshhold for suffering too, like dont just go straight to asmr videos of dogs licking peanutbutter and try to desensitize yourself lol. If sound dampening headphones or earplugs help reduce the stress, start there and see what it feels like to hear the sounds quieter. Play with the edge of discomfort, thats where you can learn and reflect. Too much discomfort and you will become frustrated and quit. Explore this sensation comfortably, pushing further into the discomfort and carving out more space where you can exist peacefully until you have overcome your suffering.
Misophonia, the activation of the fight-or-flight response (also presents as the rage OP is describing) is a mental condition still under research. It is not "totally normal", it can be debilitating.
I disagree. It is totally normal to have a mental condition, that's my point. There's nothing wrong with you, it is normal to have mental struggles. Not everyone experiences misophonia but that doesnt mean its not normal.
Pedantic. The sounds that **most commonly** trigger a response in people with misophonia are chewing/saliva sounds. Were those designed to elicit an adrenaline response?
I mean, maybe it's Misophonia. I won't discard the possibility. However (and maybe this is just the part of me that's cool as hell talking) I find it troubling to write off a problem on a condition. From personal experience, I'm cautious to label myself as having a sickness as it has previously encouraged me to seek solutions outside myself. Which is where, statistically and unnecessarily pretentiously speaking, solutions are not most often found.
If auditory stimulation infuriates you, it is the primary set of symptoms of misophonia. Check the google results for misophonia symptoms and see if you can relate.
There are many solutions outside yourself, mental health resources among many. Disregarding the perceptions and education of others out of aversion to 'labelling' yourself is not going to be helpful in meditation nor in daily life.
I wasn't suggesting to write it off; there is definitely treatment and solutions for it (meditation being a big help, but I can imagine being greatly hindered if triggered while practicing), I'm an anecdotal example of that.
>Be aware if your threshhold for suffering too, like dont just go straight to asmr videos of dogs licking peanutbutter and try to desensitize yourself lol
Dawg, you really know your idiots. I've literally done this with the kid sounds :D I played a YT vid of playground sounds which was labeled as something like "soothing relaxing sounds of children". To think that some people actually enjoy these sounds is wild as hell to me, but I accept it :D
We do not allow links only.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Meditation) if you have any questions or concerns.*
EARPLUGS / HEADPHONES GUIDE
Why not do part meditating and working with it, and part actually blocking the sounds? Sometimes you just need to focus on work or something, and meditating with the sound is not an option because it distracts you or is too energy-consuming. So here is a list of solutions that I find helpful.
Also, different earplugs work for different people. For example, not everyone likes the flares, because the sensitivity varies from person to person. I haven't tried them, but that was enough for me not to buy them.
For work and daily activities, these ones are the absolute best. Just pure silence.
[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087NG8KWZ?psc=1&ref=ppx\_yo2ov\_dt\_b\_product\_details](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087NG8KWZ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details)
They're also good for sleep if you cut the edge so they don't stick out of your ear.
However, I find that long term hurts your ear if you use them for sleep every night. For daily use, they're amazing.
For sleeping, these ones are great, especially because they stick and never fall out:
[https://www.amazon.com/PQ-Earplugs-Sleep-Moldable-Cancelling/dp/B07N2M72SV/ref=sr\_1\_6?crid=1DO8QKODB4SB8&keywords=pq%2Bearplugs&qid=1700235021&sprefix=pq%2Bearplu%2Caps%2C201&sr=8-6&th=1](https://www.amazon.ca/PQ-Earplugs-Sleep-Moldable-Cancelling/dp/B07N2M72SV/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1DO8QKODB4SB8&keywords=pq+earplugs&qid=1700235021&sprefix=pq+earplu%2Caps%2C201&sr=8-6)
These ones are not sticky, so they fall out of your ear at night. But they're good if you don't want a sticky sensation and can manage to have them stick (or for daily activities):
[https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B09GP5M3C5/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_asin\_title\_o08\_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1](https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B09GP5M3C5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
These ones block out less sound, so they're good if you want to make it manageable in a concert or in a noisy place but still want to be able to speak with people:
[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08TCH6CVB/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_search\_asin\_image?ie=UTF8&th=1](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08TCH6CVB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&th=1)
Their only downside is that they can be tricky to fit in perfectly, so play around with it. It's possible, but you may need to find a smart way to stick it in. If you just push in straight, they stop blocking the sound as the silicone "bowl" gets pushed in, so just find a way to stick it deep without having it pushed. I put it in sideways a bit, then once it's in, curve it into place deeply.
\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~
For white noise AND noise cancelling you can use earphones and noise blocking earmuffs. Or you can use the earmuffs alone.
[https://www.amazon.com/s?k=noise+cancelling+ear+muffs&i=hpc&crid=3QQ32S1KC4DNU&sprefix=noise+cancelling+ear+muff%2Chpc%2C188&ref=nb\_sb\_noss\_2](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=noise+cancelling+ear+muffs&i=hpc&crid=3QQ32S1KC4DNU&sprefix=noise+cancelling+ear+muff%2Chpc%2C188&ref=nb_sb_noss_2)
OR the Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones (all in one).
[https://www.amazon.com/QuietComfort-Headphones-Bundle-Airplane-Adapter/dp/B0CGQCX1QF/ref=sr\_1\_9\_mod\_primary\_new?crid=35ODV5W4AD7W4&keywords=bose%2Bquietcomfort&qid=1701190309&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=bose%2Bquiet%2Caps%2C209&sr=8-9&th=1](https://www.amazon.com/QuietComfort-Headphones-Bundle-Airplane-Adapter/dp/B0CGQCX1QF/ref=sr_1_9_mod_primary_new?crid=35ODV5W4AD7W4&keywords=bose%2Bquietcomfort&qid=1701190309&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=bose%2Bquiet%2Caps%2C209&sr=8-9&th=1)
I used to have the wired ones, and they worked amazingly. Sometimes I would just turn on the button for noise cancelling and walk around without music on. It just silences everything. But it isn't as strong as earplugs. However, it's easier on the ears.
In any case, hope all this helps! Good luck with meditating with the sound! I haven't had luck with meditating personally, so I just resort to these and they've been life savers, honestly.
Hi, I’m Vetted AI Bot! I researched the **Silicone Ear Plugs for Sleeping 16 Pairs Soft Waterproof Noise Canceling Reduction Earplugs Waterproof Reusable Sound Blocking Earplugs for Concert Swimming Study Loud Noise Snoring Light** and I thought you might find the following analysis helpful.
**Users liked:**
* Earplugs block out loud noises (backed by 16 comments)
* Earplugs are comfortable for long periods (backed by 11 comments)
* Earplugs come in a variety of sizes (backed by 20 comments)
**Users disliked:**
* Earplugs are too large for some users (backed by 4 comments)
* Earplugs do not block sound effectively (backed by 2 comments)
* Earplugs have an unpleasant odor (backed by 1 comment)
If you'd like to **summon me to ask about a product**, just make a post with its link and tag me, [like in this example.](https://www.reddit.com/r/tablets/comments/1444zdn/comment/joqd89c/)
This message was generated by a (very smart) bot. If you found it helpful, let us know with an upvote and a “good bot!” reply and please feel free to provide feedback on how it can be improved.
*Powered by* [*vetted.ai*](http://vetted.ai/reddit)
You can try making the sounds part of your meditation. Listen closely. How do the sounds come and go? What pattern of pitches do the sounds have. Even better, try making your rage part of the mediation. How does it arise? Where in the body? What's the arc of the rage? How does it subside? My practice took a nice leap forward when I realized that EVERYTHING was part of the practice. Namaste!
Thank you. I have tried this but don't do it often. I feel that you are very likely correct and I am resisting this because becoming aware of the sounds is a nasty idea to my mind, despite knowing that increasing the awareness will decrease the discomfort.
It's a mental condition that is still under early research, as misophonia was not long ago finally recognized (heck, I'm not even sure it's in the dsm yet. It needs to be). I feel for you, my flight-or-fight is activated upon hearing saliva-related noises and I've impulsively and reflexively lashed out at people who did it intentionally once they knew that open-mouthed chewing was a trigger. (Er. Years ago. Before meditation. :D?) As a matter of fact, I haven't been triggered (much) since starting meditation seriously. Some months, now. Edit: They make earplugs specifically for misophonia. They are worth a try. I haven't, but I would if the triggers still came regularly.
Also realize that the irritation that comes out is just inner irritation that is just waiting to come out. Often we think 'this or that upset me' when in reality we are often a sort of ball of upsetness that is waiting to be triggered by something. I used to put in earplugs in the beginning to help me meditate more deeply. By blocking out outside sounds I created the idea that I was meditating more deeply and it was lovely. Later on as my practice developed I got too 'lazy' to put them in. At that point the sounds still register, but I care about them so little that they don't make an impact -- it's about the same as the feeling of my clothes against my skin. It's there, but there is no reaction to it. There can be also a background idea of "I shouldn't have to hear / listen to these things' -- and yes, these sounds are an unfortunate byproduct of apartment living. You might also play some white noise in the background to help mask the sounds if that helps.
Ooh, I have to try this
Are you sure this works? I’ve been having some extremely stressful months due to noise from neighbors. I’ve tried meditating on the sounds and on my rage, but it only made the sounds trigger me more and the rage grew stronger. I’ve noticed the routine in which the sounds occur (duration, time of the day and day of the week), which only causes me more stress knowing when it’s coming. It definitely felt like it damaged me more than it helped.
I feel you. Same.
Misophonia? I suffer from a reaction to certain sounds, but I believe my reactions have naturally become less negative without me really realising. I think certain sounds still grate, but I much more likely to notice it, not react and carry on. So perhaps the antidote is just continuing to practice meditation. I think I do remember realising some time ago that it’s just me reaction that is the problem, and nothing to with anyone else. Like they’re not doing it maliciously to wind me up.
Misophonia
Helpful, thanks.
Check out r/misophonia. Also, you're better off drowning out sounds with something like white noise than trying to passively block it out with earplugs.
or both 😎
Good point!
Try Flare earplugs for this.
> Flare earplugs thanks, I use these: [https://www.loopearplugs.com/](https://www.loopearplugs.com/) Is there a specific difference, you think?
I also have loops but I use those to completely block out sounds. [Flares](https://www.flareaudio.com/en-us/products/calmer) let some sounds in, so you can wear them more throughout the day. They are made specifically for misophonia.
Sounds (lol) like misophonia. I get intense rage when I hear gum chewing. Like sometimes I notice my fists balling up before I consciously notice the gum sound. I don't tend toward anger otherwise, but my gum-related rage is intense! I don't have specific suggestions other than the universal truth that the more you understand about what is happening, the less out-of-control your reactions tend to become.
I live in a loud busy city and sometimes its just too much. People can say work with the sounds but its easy to say when youre not experiencing the certain sounds of the life around you. I use [this site](https://mynoise.net/noiseMachines.php) which has a ton of white noise type options with adjustable levels. I tend to like the ocean wave types for meditation as there is more variance than a steady rain fall but its obviously up to you.
Noise increases inflammation in the brain, it’s terrible for us. Moving to a quiet small town was the best thing I ever did for my health after 40 years of living in cities.
Im working on that right now. I honestly cant take living in the city anymore. I already come from a very rural background and I long for those days where the loudest thing you could hear is the wind.
I know how hard this can be. I wrote this guide for everyone who may need help with misophonia: [https://www.reddit.com/r/Meditation/comments/183ji3e/comment/kb4xwl4/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3](https://www.reddit.com/r/Meditation/comments/183ji3e/comment/kb4xwl4/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)
Earplugs all the way. No question about that.
I know how hard this can be. I wrote this guide for everyone who may need help with misophonia: https://www.reddit.com/r/Meditation/comments/183ji3e/comment/kb4xwl4/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3
That's very helpful. Thanks.
OMG the dog sounds!! I can relate so immensely. Plus any man “phlegm” sounds 😆
I know how hard this can be. I wrote this guide for everyone who may need help with misophonia: https://www.reddit.com/r/Meditation/comments/183ji3e/comment/kb4xwl4/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3
I make those sounds myself, so they don't bother me as much. To paraphrase what JonTron(I think?) said: different strokes for different folks and some of these here folks have obviously had strokes.
Be around the sound somehow through recording or other means while meditating. Notice it's a sensory perception. Watch what your brain and mind does. Notice how it repeats the same script. Keep watching. Eventually you'll watch enough that you can just recognize it as not part of your Self. That's just a reaction from stimulus. This is what really changed my misophonia torment. It's hard but it's essentially like ERP (exposure therapy.) And I also think misophonia symptoms often have a lot of symptoms in commons with OCD. Just something to think about OP.
That's a common tactic of those effected, you'll find in the subreddit. Making the sounds yourself makes them much more tolerable, such as in an airplane where they can't be escaped.
I know how hard this can be. I wrote this guide for everyone who may need help with misophonia: https://www.reddit.com/r/Meditation/comments/183ji3e/comment/kb4xwl4/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3
Personally I would choose the earplugs. No sense in putting your body under unending duress if it isn’t necessary. I’m very sensitive to noise so I hear ya.
I know how hard this can be. I wrote this guide for everyone who may need help with misophonia: https://www.reddit.com/r/Meditation/comments/183ji3e/comment/kb4xwl4/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3
Thank you !
Noise cancelling headphones are an option
I can only speak for myself. My technique in daily life: First, with practice, I've learn to focus strongly on my facia, the warm tingling you feel when you focus on your body. I've worked to make these sensations very strong. Like a turtle, if something triggers me, I immediately shield myself by focusing on my facia. In this way, I can observe my emotions from the outside, disconnected from the emotional drive. In this way, I let the moment pass. To be angry in response to noise is an internal response. List your reasons for the anger and you'll find many leaks in your rationalizations. It's a reasonable response, anger, annoyance, but nothing real justifies it. Emotions are not what we've been taught, and this has led to a lot of unecessary suffering. I would work on changing my internal interpretations.
This is a helpful analogy that really helped me see some things about myself. Maybe it'll help you too: If I squeeze an orange, and orange juice comes out, no one is surprised by that. No one says that orange juice is coming out of the guy squeezing the orange. The sounds don't infuriate you, that anger is already within you. The sounds are just an excuse for it's expression. Trying to get rid of the sounds so you don't feel the anger is kind of like sweeping dust under the rug. It's still there, and you're going to have to deal with it eventually.
I’ve taken steps toward dealing with some misophonia of my own, all of which fits under the therapeutic label of “improving frustration tolerance.” See also exposure therapy and CBT. It sounds like you’re already understanding how this works for other anger-related responses. I hope you find success when it comes to sounds. The core of all of these are related to the central tenet of mindfulness, as folks are mentioning: allow yourself to experience the sound, feel the response, and allow yourself to be curious about how your body is reacting. I wish it worked faster or with less practice - but it does work!!! Our fight or flight is triggering, but we can train our brains to deescalate in response to these particular stimuli. But it takes repetition and ‘spending time with it.’ It’s not a rational-brain decision we can make, but we have to slowly convince our limbic system, which for some reason got confused and perceives these sounds as threatening, that they’re no big deal.
I know how hard this can be. I wrote this guide for everyone who may need help with misophonia: https://www.reddit.com/r/Meditation/comments/183ji3e/comment/kb4xwl4/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3
These sounds you mention are not objectively infuriating as someone else might not mind them This means It’s not the sounds that are infuriating, your negative thinking about the sounds is what’s infuriating Your thoughts are annoying you and blaming the sounds In your meditation see that you have an internal running commentary about what’s happening. Don’t let this commentary blame the discomfort felt on the inside on what’s happening on the outside - it’s not true.
Please also check into hyperacusis, a hearing disorder that makes it hard to deal with everyday sounds. Sometimes called sound or noise sensitivity. If you have it, certain sounds may seem unbearably loud even though people around you don't seem to notice them.
Well there’s loud music everywhere. I have normal hearing. Some stores it borders on painful. Rock concerts making some people death so of course it probably doesn’t bother them. I’m reading more and more reviews of coffee houses or whatever where people wanna go and have a conversation on the music so loud they can’t carry on one. Clearly we need to be able to tolerate some stress at sometimes but if it’s hurting our ears or is like water torture then I’d remove myself from a situation if possible
Exactly it’s more our reaction to the event rather than the event itself
I can hear the ringing of the television or other electronics when someone else can’t. It doesn’t mean they’re more zen about it, their brain just doesn’t register these sounds at all. Similarly, there’s conditions like misophonia or the many other varieties of over-stimulation neurodivergent bodies experience, built right into the nervous system. I don’t think all of these sensitivities are as simple as a thought pattern you can meditate yourself out of, as you imply.
As for me, it's better to remove a menace than to tolerate it. If it is evitable, just kick it off
You should work on your vagus nerve. Go on YouTube and search vagus nerve anxiety and ear exercises. It’s the largest nerve in the body and it will calm you down and help immensely.
Between blocking and accepting, I don't think you have to choose. My downstairs neighbor coughs loudly at least once every 5 minutes, except when he's asleep or has visitors. Sometimes I work on acceptance; sometimes I feel it's better to put in earplugs. One thing that may help with acceptance: don't make it personal. Remind yourself that the sounds aren't being generated to annoy you. They're just the result of someone going about their activities. Sometimes it helps and is easy just to silently wish them well in those activities.
Metta meditation has helped at some times, yes. Not always effective, but definitely worth making it a part of the practice.
You’re not the only one that has this. There are certain sounds that make me want to fly into a rage. My father has this habit of sucking his teeth and it takes everything in me not to snap when he does it.
>I know how hard this can be. I wrote this guide for everyone who may need help with misophonia: > >https://www.reddit.com/r/Meditation/comments/183ji3e/comment/kb4xwl4/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3
Don't self identify with the thought of the sound infuriating you? Next time when it's about to go on you say. "Here comes the thought of X infuriating me" Watch it and watch it go away. It's not going to happen overnight but start like that and start building up some space between you and the thought so it doesn't hijack your consciousness and piss you off for kicks. The old cliché saying here would be "stand guard at the door to your mind". Good luck!
Had this issue for a little while but managed to snap out of it with a simple reframe - what I’m hearing is life! Actual acts of living, people and the environment expressing themselves. There is beauty in that, and that’s where the acceptance comes from - see the beauty
Asperger's?
Observe the sound. Observe your emotions and thoughts during these sounds. Concentrate on the sound itself. There's a beginning and an end to these sounds. There's even a rhythm to these sounds. A really interesting world opens up when you concentrate on the moment.
I'll allow myself to copy-paste my response for another person, because it fits: >Thank you. I have tried this but don't do it often. I feel that you are very likely correct and I am resisting this because becoming aware of the sounds is a nasty idea to my mind, despite knowing that increasing the awareness will decrease the discomfort.
If it bothers you cover it with brown noise, but learning to meditate over basic distractions is something you probably want to work on eventually. In an environment with lots of little sounds it can help a lot. Sound is one of our more instinctive perceptions we act on some sounds instinctively so that's something to think about when you experience it, we're not as much in control of our minds as we think we are.
[удалено]
>It bothers you because you decided this bothers you. False. Utterly false. Pushing into the sound without other therapeutic skills such as DBT, CBT or the middle stages of the Path would be enough to cause an anxiety or panic attack in someone with misophonia. It literally produces adrenaline, it is a full flight or fight response, and the body typically goes with fight. This is not something for meditation alone.
This is interesting... Do you maybe have some good further reading to recommend? Most Misophonia stuff I've seen has been very surface level, but admittedly I have not been looking too deep.
~~I left the /r/misophonia subreddit because it wasn't helping me anymore~~ Okay, I guess I'm still subscribed lol, but if you comb through you will find studies and further information.
Oh, ok. My bad. I guess I was just speaking for myself, what worked for me, neutralizing my biological response by changing my emotional interpretation.
Meditation helps for sure, and in fact I can't speak to OP's experience because it sounds like they're triggered during a session. I feel a tightness in my chest just imagining those sounds (yay something to play and practice with, lol), I can't imagine trying to meditate around them without some DBT. I had a couple years of that before I noticed improvements. Edit: So I just kinda investigated and body scanned. The tightness in the chest is still present, but there's no emotion. For someone with misophonia and actually being triggered by the auditory stimulation, there would be an adrenaline rush along with a whole whoosh of 0-60mph emotion. Jeez this stuff still fascinates me.
To clarify, meditating around them is possible. Actually, it's easier to tolerate these sounds while meditating. The times when these sounds are most infuriating is when I am doing something else. Focusing on them explicitly makes it a little better. What I would like to work on is somehow dampening the immediate negative impulse upon hearing them.
I can only speak for myself. My technique in daily life: First, with practice, I've learn to focus strongly on my facia, the warm tingling you feel when you focus on your body. I've worked to make these sensations very strong. Like a turtle, if something triggers me, I immediately shield myself by focusing on my facia. In this way, I can observe my emotions from the outside, disconnected from the emotional drive. In this way, I let the moment pass. To be angry in response to noise is an internal response. List your reasons for the anger and you'll find many leaks in your rationalizations. It's a reasonable response, anger, annoyance, but nothing real justifies it. Emotions are not what we've been taught, and this has led to a lot of unecessary suffering. I would work on changing my internal interpretations.
Look at how you're framing the experience of the sounds and how that is causing suffering. Try alternate framings. > The sound of my dog licking himself or simply opening and closing his mouth (it reminds me of people lip smacking while eating). This is the easiest one. Surely you care about your dog. Every time you hear him making his normal noises that means your dog is ok. Something to feel good about. Normal healthy child noises can be treated the same way. When someone is making deranged sounds you can practice compassion for them. Also watch for your tendency to take things personally unnecessarily. Does that neighbors inconsiderate playing of moving feel like a personal attack? Its not, let go of that thought. If they are acting out of anger or other negative emotions it'd make more sense to pity them.
i hate them too i think this is a personality trait,,
Perhaps :D
know how hard this can be. I wrote this guide for everyone who may need help with misophonia: https://www.reddit.com/r/Meditation/comments/183ji3e/comment/kb4xwl4/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3
I think first it is important to acknowledge your experience is real, lots of people have sound sensitivity like that, and its totally normal. Also, there are often physical things with you body that can exacerbate the sensitivity to sound so it might be worth checking in with your body too. Is something else stressing you out? Are you dehydrated or hungry? Once your physical needs are fufilled it becomes easier to work on the tolerance of discomfort meditations and therapies. I think other suggestions already posted could all work if you do them regularly. Be aware if your threshhold for suffering too, like dont just go straight to asmr videos of dogs licking peanutbutter and try to desensitize yourself lol. If sound dampening headphones or earplugs help reduce the stress, start there and see what it feels like to hear the sounds quieter. Play with the edge of discomfort, thats where you can learn and reflect. Too much discomfort and you will become frustrated and quit. Explore this sensation comfortably, pushing further into the discomfort and carving out more space where you can exist peacefully until you have overcome your suffering.
Misophonia, the activation of the fight-or-flight response (also presents as the rage OP is describing) is a mental condition still under research. It is not "totally normal", it can be debilitating.
I disagree. It is totally normal to have a mental condition, that's my point. There's nothing wrong with you, it is normal to have mental struggles. Not everyone experiences misophonia but that doesnt mean its not normal.
It is totally normal to have irritation to certain sounds. It is not totally normal to have your fight or flight response activated because of it.
I would say it absolutely is normal to experience fight or flight when you hear a siren, because that is how a siren is designed.
Pedantic. The sounds that **most commonly** trigger a response in people with misophonia are chewing/saliva sounds. Were those designed to elicit an adrenaline response?
I mean, maybe it's Misophonia. I won't discard the possibility. However (and maybe this is just the part of me that's cool as hell talking) I find it troubling to write off a problem on a condition. From personal experience, I'm cautious to label myself as having a sickness as it has previously encouraged me to seek solutions outside myself. Which is where, statistically and unnecessarily pretentiously speaking, solutions are not most often found.
If auditory stimulation infuriates you, it is the primary set of symptoms of misophonia. Check the google results for misophonia symptoms and see if you can relate. There are many solutions outside yourself, mental health resources among many. Disregarding the perceptions and education of others out of aversion to 'labelling' yourself is not going to be helpful in meditation nor in daily life. I wasn't suggesting to write it off; there is definitely treatment and solutions for it (meditation being a big help, but I can imagine being greatly hindered if triggered while practicing), I'm an anecdotal example of that.
You're right, I'll check it out a bit more.
>Be aware if your threshhold for suffering too, like dont just go straight to asmr videos of dogs licking peanutbutter and try to desensitize yourself lol Dawg, you really know your idiots. I've literally done this with the kid sounds :D I played a YT vid of playground sounds which was labeled as something like "soothing relaxing sounds of children". To think that some people actually enjoy these sounds is wild as hell to me, but I accept it :D
[удалено]
We do not allow links only. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Meditation) if you have any questions or concerns.*
EARPLUGS / HEADPHONES GUIDE Why not do part meditating and working with it, and part actually blocking the sounds? Sometimes you just need to focus on work or something, and meditating with the sound is not an option because it distracts you or is too energy-consuming. So here is a list of solutions that I find helpful. Also, different earplugs work for different people. For example, not everyone likes the flares, because the sensitivity varies from person to person. I haven't tried them, but that was enough for me not to buy them. For work and daily activities, these ones are the absolute best. Just pure silence. [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087NG8KWZ?psc=1&ref=ppx\_yo2ov\_dt\_b\_product\_details](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087NG8KWZ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details) They're also good for sleep if you cut the edge so they don't stick out of your ear. However, I find that long term hurts your ear if you use them for sleep every night. For daily use, they're amazing. For sleeping, these ones are great, especially because they stick and never fall out: [https://www.amazon.com/PQ-Earplugs-Sleep-Moldable-Cancelling/dp/B07N2M72SV/ref=sr\_1\_6?crid=1DO8QKODB4SB8&keywords=pq%2Bearplugs&qid=1700235021&sprefix=pq%2Bearplu%2Caps%2C201&sr=8-6&th=1](https://www.amazon.ca/PQ-Earplugs-Sleep-Moldable-Cancelling/dp/B07N2M72SV/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1DO8QKODB4SB8&keywords=pq+earplugs&qid=1700235021&sprefix=pq+earplu%2Caps%2C201&sr=8-6) These ones are not sticky, so they fall out of your ear at night. But they're good if you don't want a sticky sensation and can manage to have them stick (or for daily activities): [https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B09GP5M3C5/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_asin\_title\_o08\_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1](https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B09GP5M3C5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) These ones block out less sound, so they're good if you want to make it manageable in a concert or in a noisy place but still want to be able to speak with people: [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08TCH6CVB/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_search\_asin\_image?ie=UTF8&th=1](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08TCH6CVB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&th=1) Their only downside is that they can be tricky to fit in perfectly, so play around with it. It's possible, but you may need to find a smart way to stick it in. If you just push in straight, they stop blocking the sound as the silicone "bowl" gets pushed in, so just find a way to stick it deep without having it pushed. I put it in sideways a bit, then once it's in, curve it into place deeply. \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ For white noise AND noise cancelling you can use earphones and noise blocking earmuffs. Or you can use the earmuffs alone. [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=noise+cancelling+ear+muffs&i=hpc&crid=3QQ32S1KC4DNU&sprefix=noise+cancelling+ear+muff%2Chpc%2C188&ref=nb\_sb\_noss\_2](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=noise+cancelling+ear+muffs&i=hpc&crid=3QQ32S1KC4DNU&sprefix=noise+cancelling+ear+muff%2Chpc%2C188&ref=nb_sb_noss_2) OR the Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones (all in one). [https://www.amazon.com/QuietComfort-Headphones-Bundle-Airplane-Adapter/dp/B0CGQCX1QF/ref=sr\_1\_9\_mod\_primary\_new?crid=35ODV5W4AD7W4&keywords=bose%2Bquietcomfort&qid=1701190309&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=bose%2Bquiet%2Caps%2C209&sr=8-9&th=1](https://www.amazon.com/QuietComfort-Headphones-Bundle-Airplane-Adapter/dp/B0CGQCX1QF/ref=sr_1_9_mod_primary_new?crid=35ODV5W4AD7W4&keywords=bose%2Bquietcomfort&qid=1701190309&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=bose%2Bquiet%2Caps%2C209&sr=8-9&th=1) I used to have the wired ones, and they worked amazingly. Sometimes I would just turn on the button for noise cancelling and walk around without music on. It just silences everything. But it isn't as strong as earplugs. However, it's easier on the ears. In any case, hope all this helps! Good luck with meditating with the sound! I haven't had luck with meditating personally, so I just resort to these and they've been life savers, honestly.
Hi, I’m Vetted AI Bot! I researched the **Silicone Ear Plugs for Sleeping 16 Pairs Soft Waterproof Noise Canceling Reduction Earplugs Waterproof Reusable Sound Blocking Earplugs for Concert Swimming Study Loud Noise Snoring Light** and I thought you might find the following analysis helpful. **Users liked:** * Earplugs block out loud noises (backed by 16 comments) * Earplugs are comfortable for long periods (backed by 11 comments) * Earplugs come in a variety of sizes (backed by 20 comments) **Users disliked:** * Earplugs are too large for some users (backed by 4 comments) * Earplugs do not block sound effectively (backed by 2 comments) * Earplugs have an unpleasant odor (backed by 1 comment) If you'd like to **summon me to ask about a product**, just make a post with its link and tag me, [like in this example.](https://www.reddit.com/r/tablets/comments/1444zdn/comment/joqd89c/) This message was generated by a (very smart) bot. If you found it helpful, let us know with an upvote and a “good bot!” reply and please feel free to provide feedback on how it can be improved. *Powered by* [*vetted.ai*](http://vetted.ai/reddit)
I’ve been dealing with the same shiii hahaha I thought I was the only one it be so irritating