No one likes to listen to someone chew or breath loudly, but unlike most people who would write these off as simple annoyances, for those suffering from misophonia, sounds like that could trigger an extreme reaction, such as screaming or hitting out, according to WebMD.
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What is misophonia?
Misophonia, described as a strong dislike or hatred of certain sounds is a newly identified disorder. It is also sometimes referred to as selective sound sensitivity syndrome. WebMD defines it as:
a disorder in which certain sounds trigger emotional or physiological responses that some might perceive as unreasonable given the circumstance. Those who have misophonia might describe it as when a sound ‘drives you crazy.’
The range of reactions triggered by the offensive sounds is wide; some people get angry, panicked or have this string urge to flee. It is possible to develop misophonia in adulthood, although it is more common for symptoms to start showing in late childhood or early teenage years, Medical News Today.
How to tell if you have it
Many people with this condition first experience the trigger with a specific sound but as they grow, other sounds may evoke similar reactions.
A main trigger is oral sounds including the sounds people make when they eat, breathe or even chew. Another trigger is the sound produced by using a computer keyboard or even the sound of windscreen wipers. Other times too, a small repetitive motion like someone fidgeting or wiggling their feet could trigger a reaction, WebMD explains.
Like most disorders, misophonia ranges from mild to severe with mild reactions being anxiety, discomfort, disgust or the need to flee. People who have a severe form of this disorder tend to react to certain sounds with:
- Rage
- Hatred
- Panic
- Fear
- Emotional distress
Read more:
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