Misophonia

People with misophonia are affected emotionally by common sounds — usually those made by others, and usually ones that other people don’t pay attention to. Common sounds like breathing, yawning, or chewing create a fight-or-flight response that triggers anger and a desire to escape. Each person may have different triggers and a different response. It affects some worse than others and can lead to isolation, as people suffering from this condition try to avoid these trigger sounds. This disorder seriously compromises functioning, socializing, and ultimately mental health. Misophonia usually appears around age 12, and likely affects more people than we realize.

Misophonia clinics exist throughout the US and elsewhere, and treatments such as auditory distraction (with white noise or headphones) and cognitive behavioral therapy have shown some success in improving functioning.