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Original poster

to ask about your misophonia struggles?

187 replies

awesomeauntie · 18/02/2021 17:56

After seeing the feature on This Morning today about misophonia I just wanted to start a thread to hear other people's experiences and what they struggle with as it makes me feel better to know I'm not alone

The sound of feet tapping or nail biting sets me off, but my absolute biggest trigger is neighbour noise and specifically music. My ears tune into bass and low sounds and I can't hear anything else.

If my neighbour plays music with bass I honestly sometimes feel like I could smash up the house. I can't stop myself from going and standing in the room next to it to listen to it, it's like self torture and only makes me more age filled but I can't stop myself! Last summer someone at the other side of our estate was playing loud music with thumping bass for days on end. You could only hear it if you tuned into it but my ears automatically tuned into it and I couldn't stop, I was on edge every day waiting for it. I honestly nearly had a break down, the stress I felt in my head from it brought me to tears. It was awful and my partner just didn't understand, but I do understand why as even writing this out here I can see how odd it all sounds to people who don't have it.

After the feature today I've made a GP appointment to see if I can get referred for some kind of therapy - I need to try something as it's starting to control my life.

OP posts:
Mammyofasuperbaby · 19/02/2021 08:12

Oh god, for me it's; chewing, keyboards, ticking clocks, slowly pouring liquids, repetitive droning noises (my 4yo specialty), the word cupcake and light tapping.
All this started when I was 13 and my bedside clock ticking made me so angry for no reason but I had to take the battery out or I'd have smashed it.

everythingbackbutyou · 19/02/2021 08:23

@Mammyofasuperbaby, until fairly recently I would have said I found water sounds relaxing and not a part of my long standing misophonia. One day when my kids were playing in the bathtub I realised I couldn't stand the sound of them pouring the water - it really set me on edge and made me irrationally angry. So weird and frustrating.

Surlyburd · 19/02/2021 08:25

When people bite their fork whilst eating and it scrapes on their teeth!

Fembot123 · 19/02/2021 08:28

Most things but a particular trigger is people walking behind me, I can’t bear the sound of their feet, their arm brushing against their body as they walk and if they are with someone and talking I can bear it. Repetitive noises make so angry and then tearful as I wish I could just tolerate these things like others do.

Ffsnosexallowed · 19/02/2021 08:31

Others eating - in particular eating breakfast cereal and clinking the spoon off the bowl. DP trying to eat crisps quietly - ffs just eat them quickly! I've had to stop myself telling dp and dc to eat quietly- its my problem not theirs, so I'll leave the room if it gets too much

Sexnotgender · 19/02/2021 08:36

Can I add ticking clocks and whistling to the list.

I also struggle with repetitive movements sometimes. Like someone tapping their foot.

TeachesOfPeaches · 19/02/2021 08:38

Eating, breathing, clocks ticking, drinking, chewing gum chewing, wet mouth noises on the radio and podcasts, cutlery on a bowl or plate, noise leaking from headphones, chairs scraping the floor, dogs barking, sniffing.

I get extreme anxiety about hearing these noises so I never go to restaurants. Feel very anxious when I'm somewhere someone could sit near me like on a bus or train.

Social distancing has provided some relief. I've been like this since I was a child, not sure what treatment there is. I keep headphones in my pocket at all times.

DanniM1986 · 19/02/2021 08:46

The sound of my OH & DF eating, breathing, coughing, sniffing fill me with anxiety and rage like I have never felt before. I could quite happily smash them both in there face and not feel a certain way about it! (I never would). When I see my dad I wait anxiously listening for his noises, he does this weird sniff thing where he sniffs up and then blows back down and it makes me a nervous wreck. I feel infuriated even typing it!!!

WeeWillyWanky · 19/02/2021 08:46

I watches the feature on This Morning and although I find some noises irritating - don't we all? - I think there will be loads of people now claiming to have misophonia when actually they're just pissed off by certain noises. It's like people who say they're 'a bit OCD' because they like a tidy house. It must be truly awful for anyone that genuinely does suffer and having read what people have described on this thread, it must be very hard to live with. Personally, I love the sound of people crunching crisps Confused

Fembot123 · 19/02/2021 09:17

I have OCD and it upsets me when people think it’s just about being tidy or liking things just so, I also know the difference between disliking someone crunching and being brought to tears/rage by someone tapping their toe.

123feraverto · 19/02/2021 09:31

Breathing
Tapping
Eating - especially crunchy or slurpy sounds
Biting nails
Cutting nails with clippers 🤢

Not a sound but when people just don't sit still jiggling a foot or leg

I sleep with headphones in most of the time

Belladonna123 · 19/02/2021 09:32

I feel for everyone of you on this thread. I never understood what was wrong with me and the pp who said they could smash someone's face in and not give it a second thought - this was me.

I went on holiday with my beloved grandparents when I was about 12. During that time I noticed my gran constantly doing that 'moistening mouth' thing. It drove me crazy, made me feel like I hated her, dreaded getting up in the morning to face another day of listening to it and made me a cheeky, horrible bitch towards my gran during the holiday. When we got home she told my mum it must be 'hormones' as I was so moody! I couldn't explain it and to my shame it made me avoid visiting her😒would go as far to say it damaged my relationship with her. Years later and I know why. But I couldn't, woundnt, be in her company if I didn't need to. I am also one who tunes into music, or a TV, coming from another room. I need to sleep with white noise now.
Absolute sympathies for anyone living with this condition.

noblegreenk · 19/02/2021 09:39

My husband has misophonia and it's a struggle for me as well as him. Eating noises are the worst for him. He's walked out at dinner times when things have gotten too much and it's caused massive rows because I feel like he's being a drama queen. I've asked family and friends if I eat like a pig and everyone says I eat/chew nicely and there's no issue with my table manners. Even he admits it's all him and he can't stand anyone eating - it's just me who gets the brunt of it because I'm closest to him. I just ignore him now but it does upset me.

ThereOnceWasANote · 19/02/2021 09:44

Most of the expensive headphones are on display in shops so you can try them out. They are brilliant at the low frequency end, so great for bass beat and general rumbly noises which they can eliminate entirely. They are less effective for high frequency stuff - but can still make the sounds quieter and less intrusive. There are lots of cheap models out there, so I'd try a pair and then spend more if they help.
My strategy in hotels is ear plugs with headphones on top playing White noise.

nonsenceagain · 19/02/2021 09:44

Also noticing it getting worse with age. I also feel like I am always listening, always hyper aware of noises around the house and hear things that everyone else misses.

My sense of smell is pretty sharp too. Anyone else?

Fembot123 · 19/02/2021 09:47

@123feraverto

Breathing Tapping Eating - especially crunchy or slurpy sounds Biting nails Cutting nails with clippers 🤢

Not a sound but when people just don't sit still jiggling a foot or leg

I sleep with headphones in most of the time

I can’t bear that either especially if it’s in my peripheral vision.
Fembot123 · 19/02/2021 09:48

@nonsenceagain

Also noticing it getting worse with age. I also feel like I am always listening, always hyper aware of noises around the house and hear things that everyone else misses.

My sense of smell is pretty sharp too. Anyone else?

Yes, I’m like a bloodhound too! My eye sight used to be excellent as well
Oneearringlost · 19/02/2021 11:00

I think I know that breathing in sound.
Huw Edwards does it, and I really like him, but it's become noticeable over the last few months.
I think it happens when people place the tip of their tinge just behind their front teeth, then breath in through a mouth that is ajar and it sounds like a sucking in sound, usually used in between sentences within a context, not so much as inspiration at the start of a statement.
Yes, I really hate the pouring sound of liquid into a cup ( there is an advert on TV), trying, I think, to make you feel ready for a cosy sit down with a "cuppa".

Not misophonia, but I really hate the twangy, abrasive timbre that lots of Americans have, it is a cultural thing, no affectation, and it's not the "vocal crisp" thing that I've seen demonstrated. It's just sharp, sometimes seen in actors, politicians and very over confident people.
Sorry, Americans, it's not all of you...

poppyzbrite4 · 19/02/2021 11:08

@nonsenceagain

Also noticing it getting worse with age. I also feel like I am always listening, always hyper aware of noises around the house and hear things that everyone else misses.

My sense of smell is pretty sharp too. Anyone else?

Yes, my sense of smell is very sharp. Perfume and artificial scents also affect me badly.
GuyFawkesDay · 19/02/2021 11:14

Me too. Perfumes can make me feel quite nauseous.

My misophonia started as a child with my grandfather's clicking false teeth.

Now it's mainly eating noises, cutlery on teeth. Also toe/other mindless tapping, whistling.

I have music on when we eat as a family otherwise I can't sit round a table. I'm not so bad in restaurants if there's music and lots of other people there as it seems to tune it out a bit?

I also have tinnitus and iffy inner ears caused by repeated infections as a child.

I use the flare calmer earplugs and they definitely help. Recently started ADs to help the anxiety as I also have other OCD/anxiety related conditions (nail biting etc).

Spongebobsquarefringe · 19/02/2021 11:50

When my gran eats her false teeth click and that combined with slurping and chomping makes me twitch

Any sort or eating noise especially noisy crisps make me so annoyed.

Any bag being rattled, eating and talking, slurping.

Hate cutlery banging against bowls and plates.

Cannot stand any sort of excessive noise, when they go to bed I sit in silence no tv, my ears need a break, my neighbours make a really annoying noise like when you go to Spain and everything has tiles and you hear the apartment above dragging their furniture about fuck off!!

One of our neighbours has a dog...we are going to fall out. It’s making me burn internally

I’m so glad to read these and know I’m not alone in wanting to be violent to someone making crunch sounds

Lanique · 19/02/2021 11:58

It's probably best I don't read this thread as it's introducing me to even more potential noise issues that up until now haven't bothered me Grin

But yes I hear you OP (pardon the pun). Misophonia is hideous.

Original poster
awesomeauntie · 19/02/2021 12:03

@Lanique

It's probably best I don't read this thread as it's introducing me to even more potential noise issues that up until now haven't bothered me Grin

But yes I hear you OP (pardon the pun). Misophonia is hideous.

me too!! I'm not thinking about water/pouring noises which I've never thought about before but now my brain can't stop thinking about it Confused

right on time teenager next door has started with his music. trying to talk myself down but in reality i just want to scream and bang on the wall

OP posts:
user1467048527 · 19/02/2021 12:46

Re sleeping with headphones in, I have been doing this for about 18 months due to neighbours slamming doors. Since an iOS update a few weeks ago that limits headphone volume if you listen for too long, I am obsessed with the damage already done - and am now massively aware of tinnitus.

theliverpoolone · 19/02/2021 12:59

@bloodyhairy My daughter was diagnosed with it in her mid teens. It seems to be linked to her autism. Anyway, eating and breathing noises give her the rage! And she physically cannot step inside a room if someone is snoring. She's very good with it though, bless her, and loves music so her earphones are a constant godsend.

My 13 year old has developed it during lockdown, in response to me eating, sniffing or breathing. She also has OCD, and, I believe undiagnosed ASD. She's recently had an initial CAMHS assessment. I'm finding it hard, I'm virtually holding my breath when we're in the same room, we don't eat at the same table, and I worry for her future relationships. Do you have any advice other than earphones?