Disgusted by other people eating

[DisgustedGusto]

I know IABU but didn't know where else to post.

NC for this. And yes I know it's batty but I am not a troll.

For years now other people eating really disgusts me. I get really agitated if they eat with their mouths open, make a lot of noise any noise, scrap plates or cutlery, slurp, crunch etc. If they eat really slowly or take forever to chew a sweet for example or have any kind of weird eating behaviours. If I see their tongue and it's got food on it or there's food on their lips or around their mouth I get really tense, my toe curl, my lip curls, I want to vomit, slap them, cry, scream or just run away. It's a flight or fight kind of response. People licking ice creams makes me recoil at the ice cream on their tongue. Just talking or thinking about it causes this reaction too. It's got to the point I struggle to sit with my children at meal times. I can't bear to eat with my lovely mum anymore and I feel really awful about it. I've decided I'm going to have to avoid any social eating situations as today I had to leave a cafe as was totally freaked out. Food smells and appearance really make me feel sick too.

I'm otherwise pretty normal!

Anyone else experienced this and if so what did you find helps?

I think it's called misphonia ?

I'm there with you. Slurping, crunching, breaking bits of food apart, licking fingers, mouth open...

ARGH!

I often excuse myself to wash up when my kids are REALLY stressing me out. I go to the loo at work if people are eating wheat crunchies . Other than that, it helps if I am crunching while other people are...

Misphonia is noises only I believe. I think your reaction is quite extreme and sounds more like a form of phobia. If it's making you avoid social situations and eating with family then it's really negatively impacting on your life. I would advise you to go to your gp or contact the IAPT in your area (just Google IAPT followed by town/city you live in).

I think misphonia is just sound, rather than what the OP refers to.

I don't like hearing or seeing other people eat noisily or in a messy way but what you describe OP is really rather extreme. Have you ever spoken to a medical professional about this?

Yes! If I'm crunching it's fine! Fucking weird ass thing to have!

I'm with you on this.
it has ruined relationships and friendships, because I can't stand it.
the anger and frustration I feel is immense and resulted in screaming meltdowns when I was a kid. These days I can compose myself enough to either just deal with it or if it's bad I just go to the bathroom and stay there for 10+ mins so they're finished when I get back to the table

I don't think I am quite as extreme but I do have similar issues. I can't really look at people while they are eating and can't cope with messy eating (food on face/hands etc.). I honestly struggle to eat with young children or people who can't manage to eat 'neatly'. I just try to avoid these situations where I can or keep my eyes averted and try not to think about it! I know this is my issue and often no fault of the person eating messily - I would never let it make someone else uncomfortable. There is probably a name for it but I've never really looked into it.

I find this too- especially on public transport or in public places like staff break rooms. It's mainly with noise, like sniffing or rustling things, but I experience it with hearing others eat too. At the end of a long day I have more than once ended up crying because I'm so agitated by it. I think a lot of it is down to sensory overload. I am always surrounded by noise and the more I notice it the more agitated I become. For this reason I find that headphones work only sometimes. It doesn't bother me as much as it used to but I still experience it most days. I haven't really found a solution but I find that if I locate the source of the noise it eases my anger slightly (very slightly!)

All the things you describe really annoy me too I don't think to the extreme as you add to the list talking with food in mouths- in person and on the phone. You have my sympathies I know it's because I have hypersensitive hearing eg loud noises people talking or singing loudly affect me too to the point that I often withdraw from conversations or leave the room

Hi OP - it's def not batty, there are lots of us out there who are exactly the same, including me! Triggers can be visual as well as aural, btw. Google misophonia and you'll find a tonne of supportive stuff and suggestions to help

Sounds like misophonia to me too. I also find it less bad if i am making the same sound. Having the radio on, to provide some other sound to focus on, can help too. Mine is worse when I'm stressed or when my MH is bad: increased misophonia is often the first indication I have that an anxious/depressive episode is approaching.

Hope you find some relief from this soon op.

I don't like messy or noisy eaters and it annoys me irrationally, but what you're describing is very extreme, to not be able to eat with your own children is something else.

I think there must be some therapy you can receive for this, to help you.

Misophonia is noise hatred
Misokinesia is movement hatred both conditions are related and approximately two thirds of sufferers are on the autistic spectrum according to the latest research statistics

No cure, try noise cancelling headphones, dd has some Bose ones that are awesome

We find she is worse at certain times of the month and if her anxiety level are higher than normal

It triggers the fight flight response in sufferers and gents tarts st puberty

Generally starts at puberty

watching this thread because I think I'm developing this.

I have always hated the kind of place where food smells are a big deal though - like food courts in shopping centres for example. Or food markets, which my colleagues and family seem to love. Ugh.

I don't really like eating out and we have an elderly friend who I try to avoid visiting at meal times. That sounds awful...I feel so bad, but I can't help that visceral reaction.

I do eat with my children but I often leave the table as soon as I have finished to clear up. Crunching crisps drives me away though.

Misokinesia - thank you! I had no idea this was a thing.

I really struggle to cope on the Tube and in busy places etc so combined with misophonia and what I think is some kind of sensory issue, I'm probably on the autism spectrum somewhere but this has never shown up on any "tests". When I was a child autism wasn't well known.

It definitely sounds very mental but I don't think most people can identify with this. For one, I actually kinda like other people eating and the sounds they make during this activity. People munching popcorn in the cinema and slurping their coke, licking ice cream, crunching crisps is music to my ears. I also like the subtle clinking of cutlery on a plate. Hey, maybe I am weird too!

Misokinesia is this why I get agitated when the kids flit about everywhere especially if I have a headache and have taken strong painkillers that make me tired?

Sometimes I just want to live completely away from people but am actually very sociable!

@SheerKhan thanks for that

I bailed on dinner last night with people because the level of noise in restraunts coupled with a day at the zoo had tipped me over the edge.
I felt bad because eating is a social activity and binds people however I would rather eat alone or with close family.
My.mother eats ryvita when she is on the phone to me. I have to tell her I'm busy and phone her later. Iteaves me nauseated and angry that she can't see how rude it is.
Don't mention cottage cheese either

"is this why I get agitated when the kids flit about everywhere"

I thought that was me being over tired. You mean the kind of "toddler in perpetual motion" thing?

Wow, I'm so glad to hear this is a thing alongside misophonia.

I have got worse as I've got older. I'm baffled when people want to meet in places like Costa as I just think it's all activity in my eyeline and noise.

Is any of this linked to ADHD? I have crappy concentration and can be easily distracted. Airports etc reduce me to a wreck.
Or is it anxiety?I am bipolar and medicated.
I amnt a hermit but I cannot be around crowds or noise and have been aware of this since my mate teens.
My husband is in the kitchen sniffing and I want to live at the bottom of the garden just because very time he sniffs my stomach contracts. It feels like a physical tea toon

@lolaflores "I bailed on dinner last night with people because the level of noise in restraunts coupled with a day at the zoo had tipped me over the edge."

I can't do those two things in a day - I just call it sensory overload, after the zoo I'd have to go home.

I hear you... My mother suffered from this in her teens. She had to sit with her back to the rest of the table!
I don't get it that bad but cannot stand people slurping soggy cereal, licking spoons or their fingers, grease running down chins or people sharing from a plate.
I'm fine with most other things.
This has reminded me of a horrible but quite funny scene from Austin Powers, with "Fat Bastard" eating greasy chicken in bed like a huge pig. Sorry for the visual if you have ever seen it...😱😂🤢