Unfortunately, there are often triggers that cannot be avoided by the person with misophonia. An example of this is somebody who clears their throat or snores (barring sleep apnea which should get checked out). Some sounds are necessary. More than that, some sounds (and visuals) are part of activities that are important to our partners. This chart is meant to help couples negotiate their “Never”, “Sometimes”, and “Adapting” triggers. Adapting sounds are ones that are necessary or unavoidable. The adapting portion comes in to help the couple negotiate ways for the misophonia sufferer to live in this environment where triggers are present. The following example is my own chart based on my own triggers, but each couple will have a chart tailored to their situations. These categories can change over time! For example, restaurants used to be in my “Never” category. This list should not be treated like scripture but rather used for couples to identify their needs and boundaries.
Table of contents:
- Misophonia coping skills homepage
- What is misophonia?
- What is misokinesia, or visual triggers?
- Calming the nervous system
- Exercise: 4-7-8 breathing
- CBT for misophonia
- Exercise: negotiating boundaries
- Exercise: reframing misophonia
- What is a sensory diet?
- Exercise: planning your sensory space
- Misophonia Matters