There are some sounds most of us acknowledge are annoying — the crunching of crisps, the noise of the air conditioning or a screaming baby. These noises, for many people, act as a mere inconvenience that can distract us from the task at hand. However, there are some among us who have a much more severe response to these noises. The question we ask today is: Has a noise ever made you feel so angry that you could explode with rage? If the answer is yes, you may be suffering from misophonia.

The word “misophonia” literally means “a hatred of sound” and is sometimes called Selective Sound Sensitivity Syndrome. There are some experts who doubt the existence of the condition. However, for those who claim to suffer from it, the experience can be traumatic. Certain sounds cause intense emotional or psychological responses that may seem over the top compared with a non-sufferer’s complaints.

The sound of a loved one chewing their food could trigger a sufferer’s anxiety levels, or cause them to panic. It may even activate their fight-or-flight reaction, making them want to flee. In extreme cases, that feeling of panic may result in extreme anger and end up with sufferers going crazy. Also, these conditions can lead to social isolation and the sufferers may feel cut off, according to James Cartreine, a clinical psychiatrist.

Sadly, there’s no known cure. However, tinnitus (耳鸣) retraining therapy, which helps people tolerate noises, may aid sufferers, while cognitive behavioural therapy and counselling could also help people manage the condition. Sufferers use coping strategies that include avoiding places with lots of noises, like restaurants, or moving away when they feel like hitting someone due to their breathing.

So, the next time you see someone fly into a rage because of a sound that is driving them crazy, it may be due to a difficult condition they are trying to manage, and not just because they hate a certain sound.

In the past few years, I have found mental illness has been a term largely avoided in conversation, and this has built a huge stigma against those suffering from depression, anxiety and other mental diseases. What’s worse, mental illness is only brought up when the news draw our attention to it, but then the conversation quiets until the next tragedy happens.

It’s time for the conversation to continue. Instead of waiting for the next tragedy, we need to be open about mental health and about the struggles that come with mental illness and treatment. We need to develop an environment where people feel comfortable to seek the help they need instead of concealing it.

It took a long time, but I am now open about my anxiety and depression. I am open about my taking medicine to treat my mental illness. I am open about the struggle of finding the medicine that works. I encourage everyone to do the same. Be honest and open with your conversations about mental health. The more comfortable people are with these conversations, the easier it will be for the conversation to continue. A continued conversation will lead to more ideas on treatment and more ideas on how to give help to those who need it.

We have the ability to help those we love and break the stigma around mental illness and change the idea that it’s something that needs to be cured. Mental illness can actually affect anyone, impacting one out of every four people.

In short, let’s keep the conversation about mental health and mental illness open. Be sure to check up on your friends, and be open about the importance of mental health. If you’re uncomfortable, share your story, which may let others know they are not alone. Just as Albus Dumbledore said, “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”

Therefore remember to turn on the light.

Blood: Water Mission is founded by the Grammy Award-winning band, Jars of Clay. 【小题1】 And Blood: Water Mission is one of them with a mission to help communities to fight against the HIV/AIDS and water crisis.

【小题2】 So Blood: Water Mission has launched the 1,000 Wells Project as a nationwide movement to raise enough money to provide clean water to 1,000 communities in Africa based on the equation (公式) that $1 provides one African with clean water for an entire year. 【小题3】 It includes a variety of clean water solutions and sanitation (卫生) training, as well as funding health clinics, which help in the prevention, treatment, care and support of communities affected by AIDS.

The results of our efforts paint a new picture in these communities. There has been a remarkable improvement in the water situation and community health. 【小题4】 Women and children no longer walk several miles a day to get water. Village leaders have the resources and training to bring sanitation and healthcare into their communities. Water-related diseases have disappeared. Those with AIDS are living longer lives.

【小题5】 In the process, we learn about how AIDS affects African communities. By connecting with the people in Africa, we are developing social responsibility. In the meanwhile, Blood: Water Mission’s movement engages Americans in social justice and thoughtful action.

It’s a beautiful story. We invite you to be a small part of a larger, beautiful story.