Misophonia - when certain sounds drive you crazy

Scientists do not fully understand misophonia but suspect it's caused by the way some people's brains process particular sounds and react to them.

Some studies found that the brains of people with misophonia showed hyperactivation of the salience network, a group of brain areas that direct our attention to important things in our surroundings. Trigger sounds send the salience network into an overdrive. Researchers found these brain areas are structurally more robust in people with misophonia.

There's a lot of similarity between people who experience misophonia, but also a lot of diversity.

Therapists use a variety of techniques that is often based on the symptoms. Those who experience fear and anxiety may respond to exposure-based treatments. Those who experience anger can learn to manage their distress through distraction or relaxation techniques.

While we are on a flight, there are plenty of changes that we can experience:

• Change in brain chemistry and memory due to the deficiency in oxygen.
• Cognitive deficits in people who are already ill.
• Increased tiredness and more yawning during the flight.
• Deterioration in vision, dryness of skin, change in taste of food due to a reduction in the sensitivity of our taste buds and a decrease in the sense of smell.
• Change in air-pressure makes passengers generally uncomfortable with the sitting.

Mood swings, along with general anxiety or nervousness are common among flight passengers.

• Less oxygen can increase the effects of alcohol and the overall anxiety. These factors contribute to emotional changes, which can make people less friendly, more stressed out and lethargic.
• People are also prone to severe mood swings, like having extreme emotional reactions to movie scenes which would otherwise appear normal to them.

Some individuals like a certain office ambient noise, even music, as it makes them concentrate more, or provides a distraction, which is also needed.

Others have an extreme aversion, a sort of panic attack to distracting sounds, which is called Misophonia.

Extroverts seek and find noisy environments comfortable, while introverts are the opposite, and run away to solitary comfort after interacting with people.