Nails on a chalkboard, a shrill fire alarm and lip smacking; some people might think that one of these sounds is not like the other, but to me they are all the same.
The sound of someone chewing with their mouth open makes me furious. And when I say furious, I mean it. Even thinking of the sound makes me angry.
I have misophonia, which is literally “the hatred of sound.” Misophonia is a newly recognized condition which causes the sufferer to experience intense feelings of anger or disgust when they hear certain sounds. As with all conditions, there are various levels ranging from simply having a trigger but feeling no discomfort, to violent outbursts when the trigger is heard.
Because this condition was only discovered recently, there is still little information on it. However, a study done by Arjan Schröder, Nienke Vulink and Damiaan Denys found that the triggering sounds were all produced by humans; animal sounds and sounds made by the subject did not cause any distress. The three found that the most common triggers were “eating-related sounds” such as lip smacking, loud breathing or nose sounds. Some of the sufferers were triggered by the sound of typing on a keyboard or pen clicking; the symptoms could also be caused by watching someone perform some repetitive movement, such as someone bouncing their leg, which is called misokinesia (the hatred of movement).
All of the triggers caused an immediate aversive physical reaction, which started at irritation or disgust and immediately became anger. Some of the sufferers responded to the sound with verbal or physical aggression directed at the person making the sound.
Researchers are only just beginning to understand the science behind this condition. Early data from Margaret and Pawel Jastreboff, pioneers in this field of study, suggests that it could be caused by hyper-connectivity between the auditory system (responsible for hearing) and the limbic system (responsible for emotional response).
Like most people with this condition, I had the symptoms long before I ever heard of misophonia was. It was infuriating having people around me not responding the same way to the sounds that triggered me. I don’t know how many times I’ve told my brother to chew with his mouth closed because the sound would drive me crazy, but my mom would say “just ignore it” or “why are you so angry about that? It’s not a big deal.” To me, it was and is a big deal. It is not something I can ignore because the sound is equivalent to nails on a chalkboard to me.
But when I find people that understand and have similar triggers, it is a bonding experience. I know that they are aware of it and that when I say that something bothers me, they won’t just brush it off like the majority of my peers.
Jasmyn Guzzetti is a Collegian columnist and can be reached at [email protected].
Lauren S • Apr 9, 2016 at 12:06 am
Those closest to me have heard me say time and again — if there were invasive brain surgery that would get rid of misophonia for me, I’d want it. For me, it’s chewing — other triggers too, but nothing gets me quite like the sound of people eating. I have made that distinction before that this is a human-generated trigger. Animals lapping up water, crunching dry food, no problem. When the trigger is coming from a human being, the feeling is indescribable. That one video floating around the internet of the two guys at work, where the one makes eating sounds on purpose and the other agonizes through the experience and ultimately breaks down in tears– that video is upsetting for me to watch because it hits so close to home.
Like the author of this article says — even the thought of it … I just have to stop the thought in its tracks. In the presence of the actual trigger, though, the only way to cope is to get away. Even after that, the sound echoes and the rageful feeling can persist. I am witnessing this sudden societal awareness and recognition of misophonia, and I’m not sure what to think about that. This is not a fad or something to even remotely joke about. I am now 32, but I remember dealing with this starting at a young age. Full disclosure — I feel hopeless for any kind of cure and can’t fathom how CBT would help. It feels like there’s no way to rationalize oneself out of the torturous misophonia response. I hope I am wrong.
Worst of all, this condition makes sufferers behave in incredibly mean ways to the people we love the most. We carry that guilt. So many social activities center around eating — it’s completely inescapable. It happened today, and just like this on many days, that it seemed like everywhere I turned there was a trigger. With each new encounter I am more and more STUNNED that a person would willingly make that noise. Their audacity, their cluelessness makes me so upset. Misophonia can make you want to punch your favorite person or a complete and total stranger directly in the face. I am not a violent person and have never been in a physical fight. Sometimes I can feel myself looking at people with total disgust. WHY don’t they know they’re doing it?? No justice can be done here in this comment to what it feels like. It’s awful. To Jasmyn, I hope you find relief. Mack’s earplugs are my only saving grace.
If any readers or commenters here know of a specialist in the Boston area, in New England anywhere, please share this info with me. I will be so grateful!
tortilini • Apr 6, 2016 at 1:01 am
Nails on a chalkboard are exiting. When i was younger I did it, it’s an exciting feeling in my finger-nails. I never understood, but watched others fleeing because of this sound. Fire alarms, well, tends to be loud, both sounds could be avoided by wearing some wax in the ears (like Ohropax). It is ok for fire alarms to be loud, so you can flee in time, so it is not too late.
I agree haven same misphonic condition, if i hear someone klicking his ballpen, it triggers me removing him and his ballpen to an other place.
, a shrill fire alarm and lip smacking