Anyone else driven mad by people who constantly snort, cough, clear throat, lip smack?!

[deathbyprocrastination]

Oh my gosh, I thought a change of scene would help me get a few dull tasks ticked off. Almost empty café, a few people chatting etc perfect but then a guy sat down on the table behind me and just hasn't stopped making gross noises: slurping his food, coughing, sighing, snorting, letting out breathy "aaaah" noises. It makes me want to bite someone. I know I'm oversensitive to this stuff but tell me I'm not alone!!!

This is where noise blocking earbuds are worth their weight in gold!!

I left mine at home 😭

Someone started a thread on here last year asking if anyone else hated hearing people blow their nose. I stand by my response then that I would rather hear 100 people blow their nose and get it over with than one person sniff sniff sniff and clear their throat.

Can I ask what type you’d recommend please?

The man I share an office with coughs all the time, he will do it mid-word and doesn't cover his mouth, It drives me crazy. He has been diagnosed with a swollen uvula (dangly bit) so it blocks his airways. He could get it fixed but he needs to go on a sleep study and he doesn't want to do that. He also chews with him mouth open and inhales loudly when he eats. I leave at the end of April.

Also if DH is eating noodles at home, I need to wear headphones. I realise it's a me problem

OK, you def win. That sounds horrendous

Yes - it is called misophonia. Headphones!

100% me too... also goes for sucking a toffee, slurping weetabix etc

Thank you all. I'll get over myself now. Just needed to express it somewhere!

I do frequent train journeys. I would murder someone without wearing earbuds as soon as I sit down

I used to work with a woman who went cough sniff cough sniff cough sniff constantly. I wanted to strangle her. She also chewed with her mouth open so I could hear her lips smacking. She was disgusting.

Have this issue. I think it’s called misophonia. I eat alone or tolerate people eating near me. Eating out is the worst for people who can’t eat with a closed mouth and lip smacking ect.

Interesting! I really don't care at all.
Unless there's loads of those big gurgly snorts where you can hear the snot bubbling. They are unnecessary.
But normal coughing, throat clearing, sniffing is just the realities of being human surely.

I have the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra ear buds - cannot survive without them! Expensive but refurbished are slightly cheaper.

Noooo 😱😱😱

Thanks, I’ve had a look and can see they’re for playing music, I just want something to block out my neighbour practicing the same fucking piece of music on his piano a thousand times a day when I’m working from home or in my garden, starts from 7am up to 11pm. It’s that or I break into his house and cut the strings….

I've got a cheap Amazon version - they are for listening to stuff but I also just use them to block out noise at times.

Bought them in 2023 and so far still working though the noise cancelling isn't as good at the more expensive versions.

Loop quiet

This guy was doing quite a lot of big gurgly snorts. Generally speaking, I am more sensitive than most in this context and I think it depends on frequency/intensity. If you have a cold then inevitably there'll be some sniffing (ideally dealt with regularly by a nose blow rather than incessant sniffing) and coughing. But if you're not unwell and have just got into the habit of clearing your throat, coughing, sniffing every min or so, I find that really annoying to be around. And chewing loudly with mouth open is just so gross.

Thanks, do you find they’re any good?

Thanks, I’ve got Apple AirPods which I love for listening to music/audio books but I want something to just make my house and garden quiet 😂

Yes, I work with a persistent snorter - she really needs to see a doctor IMO

I cough pretty consistently because I’m asthmatic. It’s not my fault, I also gasp for breath or sigh at times - because I’m struggling to breathe. Again not something I can help in spite of lots of medication.

Maybe try and be a bit less judgemental, there are medical reasons people do these things. They don’t just do it for fun.

I have a colleague who sniffs CONSTANTLY. It makes me want to kill him. There is a woman who smacks her lips, mouth breathes and eats really noisily too, although I can avoid her, because she's not in my team. And my boss wonders why I prefer to WFH!