Phonophobia is the fear of loud sounds, including one’s own voice, and can cause anxiety, physical symptoms, and avoidance of such sounds. Traumatic events and genetics can cause it. Treatment includes counseling and relaxation techniques. Medications only treat symptoms.
Phonophobia, or ligirophobia, is the fear of loud sounds or even one’s own voice. Like many types of phobias, this condition is usually accompanied by anxiety, rapid heartbeat, nausea, difficulty breathing, excessive sweating, and dry mouth. In general, it is characterized by a feeling of dread or panic regarding loud noises, often resulting in the avoidance of such sounds whenever possible. Unfortunately, some serious cases include a fear of one’s own voice, other people’s voices, or other sounds that are usually unavoidable in life. Thus, phonophobia often prevents the afflicted from having a normal life unless treatment is sought.
One of the most common causes of phonophobia is a traumatic event, known to create a feeling of anxiety when dealing with loud sounds. Indeed, negative events experienced at a young age are often responsible for the development of various phobias, not just this one. Of course, some people with the condition are genetically predisposed to it, as it can run in families, so it’s not always necessary to have experienced a traumatic event to suffer from phonophobia. In some cases, the cause of this condition is a blend of brain chemistry, genetics, and past events that combine to create this and other phobias.
It’s considered normal to be frightened by sudden loud sounds, or even dislike them at all, but it’s not healthy to live in fear of most noises. The usual symptoms of this condition vary depending on the severity of the case, but most people with phonophobia experience feelings of anxiety thinking about the possibility of loud sounds. This is usually accompanied by physical symptoms such as dry mouth, rapid breathing, rapid heartbeat, sweating, nausea, and even a temporary inability to speak. Some people may experience such symptoms when they are rare, as they can only occur with sudden loud sounds, but those who are afraid of voices or other more common noises often struggle more.
There are medications available to treat phobias, but they tend to treat only the symptoms, not the underlying fear. Also, anti-anxiety medications that may be prescribed often have unwanted side effects. Therefore, many people prefer to try counseling involving behavior therapy, psychotherapy, exposure therapy, or hypnotherapy. Relaxation techniques can also be used to eliminate the anxiety that is often responsible for phonophobia. While it’s normal to try several of these treatments to find one that works, it’s important to consult a professional for each method.
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