With bipolar, it's common to experience heightened sensitivity to sound—an almost-painful reaction to noise. This is especially prominent during mood episodes—usually mania. Here are some suggestions for coping when it's difficult to find the solace of silence.
Hearing hypersensitivity is a fairly common mood symptom with bipolar.
People who carry the genetic risk of bipolar disorder may be at greater risk of full-blown bipolar disorder because of the impact of noise and light pollution on sleep patterns and circadian biorhythms.
Misophonia, or “hatred or dislike of sound,” is characterized by selective sensitivity to specific sounds accompanied by emotional distress, and even anger, as well as behavioral responses such as avoidance. Sound sensitivity can be common among individuals with OCD, anxiety disorders, and/or Tourette Syndrome.
The known maladaptive types of coping mechanisms, or negative coping skills, evident in BD patients are “… rumination, catastrophism, self-blame, substance use, risk-taking, behavioral disengagement, problem-direct coping, venting of emotions, or mental disengagement” (Apaydin & Atagun, 2018).
A stressful circumstance or situation often triggers the symptoms of bipolar disorder. Examples of stressful triggers include: the breakdown of a relationship. physical, sexual or emotional abuse.
Binge eating, abusing drugs, smoking—there are many behaviors to deal with bipolar disorder symptoms that can lead to bad habits. But you can learn to break them.
Misophonia is a disorder where you have a decreased tolerance to specific sounds and things you can sense related to them. While it doesn't yet have official recognition as a distinct disorder, experts still recognize it.
A breakthrough study recently found that misophonia is a brain-based disorder. Researchers point to a disruption in the connectivity in parts of the brain that process both sound stimulation and the fight/flight response. It also involves parts of the brain that code the importance of sounds.
Hyperacusis is a type of reduced tolerance to sound. People with hyperacusis often find ordinary noises too loud, while loud noises can cause discomfort and pain. The most common known causes of hyperacusis are exposure to loud noise, and ageing. There are no tests for diagnosing hyperacusis.
No two people with bipolar disorder share the same thoughts or experiences, but there are some common thought patterns among most folks who have it. This includes cyclical thinking, manic and/or depressive episodes, suicidal ideation, and psychosis.
Whether you fear never getting “better,” being abandoned by your loved ones or even fear the “good days” with bipolar disorder, your experience with fear is not only valid, but most likely common among others in the bipolar community.
A person with bipolar disorder may experience pressured speech during manic periods. These are periods of extreme highs. During these times, a person may feel the need to speak rapidly, suddenly, or erratically.
Many people with bipolar disorder experience manic episodes, which are periods of at least one week where you feel euphoric, full of energy, and need less sleep. Pressured speech is a common characteristic of mania. During a manic episode, you may feel a compulsive urge to talk rapidly without interruption.
Is hyperacusis a mental illness? No, hyperacusis isn't a mental illness. Hyperacusis is a hearing disorder commonly associated with mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression. Living with the excessive loudness characteristic of hyperacusis can affect your mental health.
Maybe they have a condition such as sensory processing disorder that causes hypersensitivity to external stimuli, and too much noise can lead to sensory overload. Perhaps they experienced a past trauma, and certain noises can lead to anxiety and panic attacks, or trigger post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The sound sends you into a state of uncontrolled annoyance, provoking anxiety and anger. These are the symptoms of misophonia, also known as “selective sound sensitivity syndrome,” which is a condition categorized by extreme reactions to sounds, especially those from chewing, breathing or whistling.
If you have ADHD, these scenarios may be familiar. Individuals with ADHD may have trouble with emotional regulation and hypersensitivity to touch, sounds, and light.
Bipolar disorder and marriage can be toxic to a relationship. That's when a relationship fails or is failing. It can trigger negative reactions that could lead to self-harm, self-loathing or worse.
Dealing with the ups and downs of bipolar disorder can be difficult—and not just for the person with the illness. The moods and behaviors of a person with bipolar disorder affect everyone around—especially family members and close friends. It can put a strain on your relationship and disrupt all aspects of family life.