In a candid interview with Dr. Zach Rosenthal, director of the Duke Center for Misophonia & Emotion Regulation, Little House on the Prairie alum Melissa Gilbert shared her lifelong struggle with misophonia, a condition that has deeply affected her emotional well-being. The interview, published on August 20, reveals the profound impact this often misunderstood condition has had on her life.
Gilbert described misophonia as something that made her feel like an “other” throughout her life, isolating her from those around her. “It made me feel afraid and isolated and, when triggered, angry,” she explained. “I also felt incredible guilt for what I considered ‘bad’ thoughts.”
Misophonia, characterized by intense negative reactions to specific sounds, varies greatly from person to person. For Gilbert, the condition meant living in a constant state of alertness, anticipating the moment when a triggering sound would make her want to flee or scream, according to a study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology. “My whole childhood and life, I felt like I was constantly on alert and was always waiting for the ‘attack,'” she shared.
Some of Gilbert’s most severe triggers include “open-mouthed chewing sounds,” but she noted that there are “different levels of bad.” She elaborated, “Gum chewing sounds are bad, but popping and snapping gum are worse. Loud chewing of food is bad, but chips of any kind and popcorn are agonizing. Nails tapping on a table and clicking pencils can be triggering and sometimes even finger snapping or hand clapping.” These sounds, she said, could be particularly challenging, especially considering her love for being on stage.
For many years, Gilbert struggled with feelings of shame, believing she was simply a “bad person with bad thoughts.” She said, “The day I found out that what I have has a name, I sobbed. Not only did I feel better knowing I wasn’t out of my mind, I realized that I was not alone.”
Finding solace in cognitive behavioral therapy, Gilbert discovered tools that helped her manage her misophonia. “The therapy gave me an incredible toolbox of coping mechanisms, many of which I use nearly every day,” she revealed. “I cannot begin to express how much more peaceful my life is since going through treatment. Misophonia doesn’t go away, but the therapy I did gave me the coping skills to better control my misophonia and not allow it to totally control me.”
Gilbert hopes that by sharing her experience, she can encourage others with misophonia to seek help. “Even more importantly, I want people to know they are not alone. I know exactly how they feel,” she added. “I know the fear, anxiety, and fury that come with misophonia, and I know there is help. Real, true, life-changing help.”
Through her story, Gilbert seeks to offer hope and support to those who, like her, have struggled in silence, showing them that they are not alone and that healing is possible.