Misophonia from the controversial board

[MICKIMINI]

Gum chewing is the worst. Being on a plane seated even a row or two away is torture. Lip smacking and scraping teeth with a fork is another one for me. I won't go to the movies as I cannot stand listening to people eating popcorn. Just thinking of those things makes my skin crawl. I first noticed these triggers in middle school.

 

[wenrob]

Just reading this thread is giving me that feeling. I feel like I’ve had it my whole life? Like I don’t remember a time where any repetitive sound did not drive me around the bend and has often led to outbursts when I just couldn’t take it anymore. My mom was gum snapper and smacker. Then she’d blow a bubble and pop, pop, pop, suck it in over her teeth, heavily breathe out then snap, snap, snap over and over and over. The kids thing, I have a nephew who had an auditory speech delay thing happening so his voice was really high pitched and one day I had all the kids in the car and they were fighting and I just lost it. I still feel bad to this day and he’s now a grown man who has no memory of that. I never knew this was a thing until I saw Kelly Ripa talk about it. I think my dad probably had it too. I remember him getting up in the middle of the night and shutting off the water to the whole house because of a drip in the bathroom sink. I have warned my kids to not bring home any partners who will smack at my dinner table.

And you know what’s worse? I have suffered with tinnitus for the last four years so complete silence will drive me over the edge as well. I always, always have my TV on because there’s just enough low level noise there to distract me from it.

And this:

Another somewhat related thing that we both suffer from is miso kinesia. Repetitive movements like hair stroking, legs crossed and foot bouncing, arms swinging while walking, nail picking. This goes on. Like misophonia, once you see it, you can’t unsee it and it’s enraging. Like crawl out of your skin screaming painful.

My DH is knee bouncer, rubs his feet or hands together, tapper, ahhhhhhh! Fortunately this isn’t as bad but I have asked on many occasions for him to please stop. He doesn’t even know he’s doing it.

 

[Owlpost23]

Yeah, I’ve got it too (actually found out about it from a message board). I realize now that I first had symptoms as a teen (I actually told my sister that she needed to stop blinking ).

Gum popping, sucking of teeth, tapping of feet, clicking a pen, etc all make me wanna stab someone with a pencil (that’s what my husband says ).

I’ve been able to removed myself from most situations but recently I got a new coworker that pops gum. I had to pull the old “chewing, and especially popping gum at the front desk is unprofessional” . She has toned it down since then.

Gum snapping is the worst.Drives me up a wall and I can hear it a mile away.

 

[Imzadi]

I remember two more. They are both similar mechanical sounds, so that tells me something about tolerance.

The first one is my paper shredder. It's a really old model. I don't know if newer models are quieter. But, this one is so LOUD, screechy and makes a ratchety noise like a machine gun as it makes the cross cuts into little bits. I've only used it a couple times in all the years I've had it.

I have a paper grocery bag full of paper I need shredded but can't get myself to do it due to the noise. I end up hand tearing up most papers instead, concentrating on the areas that have my name, address, account numbers, etc. I should just get a new shredder. Or I've seen scissors with multiple blades for cutting herbs. I could use that instead of the hand tearing. But, then I keep telling myself that it would probably take only 20 minutes to shred the whole bag. . . But, there's that noise.

 

[Imzadi]

The second one is a handheld oscillating saw. Decades ago, I got it to cut 5 shelves shorter to fit my bathroom. The saw works fantastic for cutting super straight, professional lines, even though it's handheld. I don't even need to sand smooth afterward.

I have had so many very small projects where all I need is one or two simple cuts on something. Each would only take 10 minutes for a cut. My place could have looked like the cover of Architectural Digest by now, if I had done all the simple repairs or alterations. Except I can't get myself to turn on the darn saw due to the noise! Eventually, I end up getting different furniture or whatever.

Several months ago, I finally got a pair of noise cancelling headphones specifically to use this saw to cut the "L" portion of a countertop off. ONE cut! I already know I can do it from cutting the 5 shelves previously. Half hour of time tops. (A pro could cut it off in 3 minutes with the same saw and charged me $100.)

I finally bit the bullet. Mentally prepared myself for the noise, even with the noise cancelling headphones on. But, something made me turn on the saw first, without the headphones, as they are a bit cumbersome on. They are thick like the airport workers headphones. While the noise was LOUD, it was NOT that high pitch screechy noise that goes right through me. I was able to do the cut without the headphones.

However, I have a new list of things to cut. One is the thick branch of a house plant. 5 seconds tops. And even though I've already proven to myself the saw doesn't bother me as I thought it would. And I have my noise cancelling headphones nearby. But, just the IDEA of it being noisy when I turn it on, has been stopping me. It's like I'm back to square one with this saw.

 

[WDWJDS]

Forgot to mention, my daughter is on anti anxiety medication and that has helped along with her CBT therapy. And at Disney, she’s never without her noise canceling headphones.

Another somewhat related thing that we both suffer from is miso kinesia. Repetitive movements like hair stroking, legs crossed and foot bouncing, arms swinging while walking, nail picking. This goes on. Like misophonia, once you see it, you can’t unsee it and it’s enraging. Like crawl out of your skin screaming painful.

Miso kinesia here as well . My goodness, STOP SHAKING YOUR LEG!

 

[sasywtch]

I understand this so well! My brother and I have this. My brother has it worse than I do, but I really struggle. If anyone is smacking gum I have a physical reaction. And lately it seems like smacking gum is acceptable everywhere- at the workplace, in church, even at wakes and funerals. Sniffing is another tough one for me.

I understand the smacking gum and sniffling.

 

[sasywtch]

Thank you all for sharing your stories. As with panic/anxiety, those who don't understand may not understand this. When I told my oldest daughter there was a name for it (as she has had me yell at her for the tv and the clicking), she rolled her eyes. I hope I explained the feeling I get with certain sounds. It's not just an irritation, it's a major focus that turns into almost a feeling a rage. (for me at least). I'm so grateful for the replies and sorry I hadn't read a few days ago but kidney infection and 112 F outside, it's miserable here.

 

[Donalddidwhat…?!]

My sister and my son both have mild versions of this. The funny thing is that they are both kind of noisy themselves.

Okay, editing to add....My son, who happens to be visiting this weekend just came in from the other room saying "what is that noise?" I was doing a word game that made a little clicking noise.

If I’m being totally honest, in all my 61+ years I have never heard of this affliction/syndrome.
There are, of course, certain “noises” that can annoy me at times, but I cannot think of any that drive me crazy.
Kids crying, etc. (we raised 3, and now have 2 granddaughters), someone stirring their coffee, someone clicking a pen, etc., etc., etc. have never really bothered me. Also, having worked in an office setting for more than 4 decades, I have always been mindful of my own “noise”.
Our middle child (son, age 31) is on the autism spectrum, and deals with a good bit of OCD.
He makes plenty of repetitive noises often…with his feet on the floor, objects, etc. Doesn’t even realize he’s doing it the vast majority of the time, or that others may be annoyed by it. After a little while of it, a quick, gentle reminder usually stops it, with him maybe getting in one last dig…!!!!!
None of it annoys me to the point of driving me crazy, and I can’t think any family members where this is a problem.
And, let me stress that I completely believe this is real, I just have never heard of it before. After I read through most of the thread I understood better, and am just very thankful I do not, or anybody I know, suffer(s) from this.

Also, your first paragraph makes me ponder that maybe it’s not so much noise, in and of itself, but the fact that the person suffering from this is not in control of the noise being made, as in they’re not making the noise, thus anticipating it…..if that makes any sense…?
Anyway, interesting subject, for sure.

 

[wenrob]

If I’m being totally honest, in all my 61+ years I have never heard of this affliction/syndrome.
There are, of course, certain “noises” that can annoy me at times, but I cannot think of any that drive me crazy.
Kids crying, etc. (we raised 3, and now have 2 granddaughters), someone stirring their coffee, someone clicking a pen, etc., etc., etc. have never really bothered me. Also, having worked in an office setting for more than 4 decades, I have always been mindful of my own “noise”.
Our middle child (son, age 31) is on the autism spectrum, and deals with a good bit of OCD.
He makes plenty of repetitive noises often…with his feet on the floor, objects, etc. Doesn’t even realize he’s doing it the vast majority of the time, or that others may be annoyed by it. After a little while of it, a quick, gentle reminder usually stops it, with him maybe getting in one last dig…!!!!!
None of it annoys me to the point of driving me crazy, and I can’t think any family members where this is a problem.
And, let me stress that I completely believe this is real, I just have never heard of it before. After I read through most of the thread I understood better, and am just very thankful I do not, or anybody I know, suffer(s) from this.

Also, your first paragraph makes me ponder that maybe it’s not so much noise, in and of itself, but the fact that the person suffering from this is not in control of the noise being made, as in they’re not making the noise, thus anticipating it…..if that makes any sense…?
Anyway, interesting subject, for sure.

No, it’s not a control thing. I wish it was because it would be much easier to deal with. You can learn to let go of things and let them happen. This not so much. Think of twisting a rubber band until it inevitably snaps or slowly squeezing a balloon until it pops. It’s a pressure that builds and the only way to make it stop is for the sound to stop. I don’t really know what else to compare it to.

 

[NotUrsula]

Minor throat-clearing is my trigger. I don't mind it when it's a full-blown cough, but that little Dolores Umbridge "ahem-ahem" sends me right up a wall. DH got a throat infection a few years ago and started clearing his throat all the time, and now he does it habitually. I find myself actively avoiding him sometimes when I'm stressed, because I'm afraid I'll say something I'll regret. (He claims he cannot breathe unless he does it, but I know that isn't true because he does not do it in his sleep.)

 

[Poohbear538]

All I have to say is thank you! I have found my home.