Melissa Gilbert experienced discomfort with some kind of sound or visual stimulation as a child, even while filming Little House on the Prairie. However, it was not until adulthood that she figured she had misophonia. Misophonia is a condition that causes people to have strong emotional responses to sound and noise.
The neurological disorder is reportedly not common, affecting up to 15 percent of adults, with women more susceptible to it. Melissa was mostly triggered by sound, and for someone on set with other little kids, it was tough going through all that stimulation.
What was childhood like for Melissa Gilbert?
Melissa recalled feeling extremely guilty for her reactions to noise, such as the sounds of chewing, slurps, crunching sounds from chip bags, or even hearing her dad enjoying some blueberry pie. She would tremble with anxiety and feel some hatred toward those around her, making her feel like a terrible daughter and friend for most of her childhood.
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Growing up and realizing she had misophonia gave Melissa some relief and unburdened her from the miserable feeling of being a snappy person. She recalled sobbing when presented with the information for the first time and began learning about how to manage it.
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Misophonia and motherhood
Melissa’s condition also affected her parenting as she banned her children from having gum and would make them extra careful of the noises they made— most of which were normal. The mother of two admitted to yelling at them for the slightest reason and having them keep quiet much of the time.
Thankfully, Melissa discovered cognitive behavioral therapy to help manage her emotional responses to the stimuli. Although the triggers never go away or get any less disturbing, she is learning to control her reactions and self-regulate when put on the spot.