Blocking a Reflex
There are a few reflexes that you can block. For example, if you are having esophagus constriction, you can swallow to stop that reflex. You may be able to block a sexual arousal reflex with someone tickling you or a deep yoga stretch.
One misophonic reflex that I have seen several times is a gasp – a quick breath. If you have this reflex, then you may be very lucky. You can overpower your miso-reflex by breathing. Just don’t hold your breath. I call this scuba breathing (yes, underwater diving). When I took scuba lessons, they taught us that we had to always be breathing in or out. We never held our breath, because to do so could cause our lungs to explode. So if you have a gasp reflex, just practice scuba breathing. Breathe in slowly for four to five seconds, then breathe out at the same rate. By willfully controlling your breathing muscles, you will greatly reduce your misophonia.
If you discover a way to block a reflex, let me know so we can share your success. It may be possible to use Botox or some other medical treatment to block a physical reflex. This could be a good research study.
