AIBU to ask if misophonia is real?

[Twowrongsdontmakearight]

DS (15) has self diagnosed misophonia. For a few years he has overreacted badly to some sounds like sniffing (particularly me and DD) and people licking fingers when eating fish and chips. He has described a growing rage that makes him want to lash out. As he's got older he's learned to take himself away when the feeling of rage starts but we're heading into winter which is colds/flu and of course sniffing season.

I've never heard of it but when I Googled it it does sound possible. Have any of you lovely MNers come across this? Is it something to see the GP about or will he grow out of it? Any thoughts? I've posted in AIBU because I can't work out the more appropriate place. Thank you.

Yes it is real. I have it and it can be really difficult for me. Sometimes its ok but other times it can nearly bring me to tears.

I suffer from a severe anxiety disorder so this does have an impact. I didn't know it was a "thing" until i read something on here but it is most definately a big issue for me whether it is a "thing" or not.

I suspect it is linked with anxiety.

The worst noise in the world is my colleague eating a boiled sweet, god almighty the fucking sound of it knocking against her teeth, followed by the suck, inhale and lip smack sounds at the same time, repeat x 10, until the crunching of the last bit.

I want to scream just crunch the bastarding thing and get it over with.

Never heard of it before this thread. Everyday's a school day on MN.

If it was my DS, I'd be looking into desensitisation therapy as unless he's going to become a hermit, he'll be unable to avoid those triggers. In the meantime, I second the advice given by a pp to try to allow him to sit his exams in isolation.

Good luck.

I also want to go into an absolute rage when I hear some noises. ExH would say it was me being unreasonble, but fuck! I have never heard anyone eat as hideously as he did. I reckon it is getting worse with me as time goes by.

I also remove myself from company if I cannot bear it. The only thing that keeps me more or less even, is knowing that it will stop if it is an apple or sweet or something. As for ExH having cold and fucking sniffing all the time. URGH!!!!

Your DS has my sympathies.

I get it with eating sounds - I remember going to the cinema to watch one of the lotr films and the possessed king was eating really loudly. I nearly cried /clawed my ears off.

However, I have got better as I got older, if that's any consolation. Occasionally I have to leave the room still, but mostly I can cope.

I banned dd1 from eating polos in the house i couldnt stand her crunching them felt like glass shattering in my head

Ive just thought of another, that fucking weight watchers advert that was on the radio about a year ago, annoying woman listing all the stuff you can eat while doing the ww plan, and supposedly eating while reading it.

I used to hear it in the car, whoever thought that advert up needs their finger nails pulled out.

I'd be looking into desensitisation therapy

This can be a good idea, but be aware that auditory torture - the name i gave to desensitisation therapy - doesn't always work (it certainly didn't for my hyperacusis and the pain it caused still causes the occasional nightmare).

Whatthefucknameisntalreadytake I suffer with visual triggers too. All I have to say is DSname and he stops immediately. He knows how angry it makes me when he bounces his leg or whatever.

LimburgseVlaai I can't abide being stroked either but I had never put it together with Misophonia.

ExasperatedAlmostAlways No, but it certainly didn't help!

I have the stroke hate too, and visual hates, particular movements and even particular lip movemements set me off.

I am phobic to the point of screaming about skin that is pruny, I cannot even look at it and certain fabrics are untouchable for me.

My senses seem to be overloaded sometimes. Particularly auditory and kinesthetic and to a lesser extent visual although sometimes I can "taste" pictures.

memyselfandaye I've mentioned that advert earlier in the thread I can't believe somebody thought it was a good idea. Talking while eating to demonstrate you can eat normal food. She sounded like she couldn't fit any more food in her mouth.

It is real and a seizure trigger for my epilepsy.

Glad it's not just me who gets the visual triggers too. Have never thought about linking it to touch rage but yes certain fabrics make me feel physically ill.

I think I have this. It's repetitive noises that get me. Like ticking clocks, or the fucking neighbour playing her shit boom boom music all day. I spend most of my life with headphones on.

Of course it's real and it never gets better. DH used to try and cure mine with "immersion therapy" as he called it. He'd eat really loudly and bang cutlery off a plate as hard as he could. All it did was make cover my ears up and start sobbing. He has finally accepted it's not going to go away. He used to get really offended if I left the room when we were eating. I have asked him to simply let me go. I can deal with it most of the time in that inside I'm screaming but outwardly I look fine, sometimes though I just have to leave the room.
I'm the same with certain fabrics too. The thought of having them near my skin causes actual distress but it's easily dealt with by avoiding those fabrics.

I have found that playing music or having some other inoffensive noise to focus on sort of dilutes and really helps.