/r/misophonia

Photograph via snooOG

Misophonia is a neurophysiological disorder in which sufferers face an aversive reaction to otherwise normal sounds and (visual) stimuli.

Our goal is to facilitate an accurate, ethical, and evidence-based approach to Misophonia research, advocacy, and coping methods.

Have an academic study? Here's how to post: https://www.reddit.com/r/misophonia/comments/m2wlxh/academic_study_recruitment_for_reddit_guidelines/

Want to chat? Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/YAnZKQh

Subreddit Rules

Please be advised of the following rules. Failure to adhere to them will result in the post being removed. If you continue to break these rules, you may be subject to bans.

Rule 1. No posts that mention violence, wanting to harm others, or visual images depicting this. This includes suicide. If you are suicidal, please contact a suicide prevention hotline (1-800-273-8255), or a medical professional.

Rule 2. No posts “shaming” persons for triggering you.

Rule 3. No posts linking to “research” that is unethical (not done in a lab, for profit, or otherwise nonviable).

Rule 4. No venting. Venting should only be done on “weekly venting threads”. Rules for violence still apply. If you would like advice on a specific problem, or would like dedicated post to vent on, please visit r/misophoniasupport.

Rule 5. All posts discussing unverified treatments are subject to removal. Do not suggest medications (this is unethical and can harm other sufferers) unless this is in the context of research studies.

Rule 6. All links are subject to scrutiny from moderators. Our goal is to only link to high-quality sources, and moderator discretion will apply to all links. This includes for profit links, self-promo, or otherwise un-useful links.

Rule 7. Low quality posts that do not contribute to discussion will be removed.

Rule 8. Rude, offensive, or otherwise distasteful comments/posts (heavy profanity for no reason, bullying, etc.), will be removed.

Rule 9. No off-topic posts are allowed. This includes derailing, or topics that are not being discussed in the thread.

Rule 10. No Memes. Please post memes in r/misophoniasupport.

Rule 11. No Screenshots of PMs, Other Threads, or others' posts. If you'd like a person to share, ask them to share themselves on the thread.

Misophonia Resources

*News, Coping, Resources

*Misophonia Awareness/UK

*International Misophonia Research Network

*Coping Provider Network

*Free Guide for Doctors

*Free Guide for Parents

Recent Misophonia Research

*Misophonia Literature Review

*The Brain Basis For Misophonia

*Large-Scale Misophonia Study

*Sensory Reactivity Study

Books

*Exploring Misophonia (An anthology of researcher and sufferer perspectives)

*Young Adult Fiction Novel on Misophonia

*Full of Sound and Fury: Suffering With Misophonia

Films/Videos

*Quiet Please (Misophonia Documentary)

/r/misophonia

78,058 Subscribers

3

My husband has Tourettes, how do I deal with my triggers without being an a$$hole

Hi everybody. I have been in an obsessive research loop for months and have not found anything useful, so I figured it might help to explain my situation to people who understand and ask for advice. So my noise sensitivities include the normal ones.. sniffing (🤮), throat clearing, people talking w spit in their mouths, etc, but I feel as though whenever I encounter those triggers I can “tough it out” because even though I feel the panic and anxiety, I know that I can eventually leave the situation. My issue is that my husband has very severe Tourettes disorder, and unfortunately many of his tics are incredibly triggering to my noise sensitivity/misophonia. His most notable one is a full-forced strained grunt noise. It is worth mentioning that he naturally has a very loud voice that projects like nothing i’ve ever heard before lol, I always have to tell him that his “whispers” in public are very audible to everyone in the room 🤣. Anyways, I really cannot think of a nice way to put it besides the tic is ear-shatteringly loud sometimes. His other tics include quieter versions of the same noise, sniffing, and a lip scrunch thing, among others that come and go. We have been married for 6 years and while I have been officially diagnosed with Panic Disorder, I unfortunately believe that my issues with noise are a huge reason why I have panic attacks. For me, the noises do not irritate or anger me, they just simply put my body into fight or flight mode and literal sheer panic fills me every time. You can imagine how this strains our relationship.. of course it is not his fault that I react the way I do! But he feels sooo guilty and ashamed whenever he can tell that I am affected. Meanwhile, I feel like a grade A POS for making him feel bad about something he cannot control. He has repeatedly expressed to me things like “no one else in my life cares about my tics, or even notices them anymore.” I just feel like a horrible person. As for things I have tried- I literally bought the most expensive sound canceling headphones on the market and played them 100% volume white noise and wore them for a couple weeks straight. I can literally still hear the tics through the white noise.. albeit quite faintly. It barely helped my anxiety. Putting on music in the background and/ or going into the other room have similar success rates. My issue is that the ANTICIPATION of the noises is what is most anxiety inducing for me. I think that that is what is so triggering specifically. Tourettes is characterized by a noticeable “pattern” to the tics, but not really a predictable pattern. So my brain just gets stuck in this loop of anticipation and and then panic and repeat until I have a panic attack or literally scratch the skin off of my own arms (I have so many scars). And then the guilt/ shame on both of our parts after. I have been in therapy for my anxiety and on medications for anxiety / adhd, but at BEST they take the very edge off. I just want to be able to go a single moment of my life without planning “escape routes” from my own husband that I love. I also would love any advice for HIM that could help him feel better about the situation. I have showed him all of the articles about misophonia and explained as best as i can that i cant control my reactions any more than he can control his tics, but I know it still kills him and wrecks his self esteem. Especially because the literal ONLY thing that even sort of helps me is ‘mimicry’ which I try sooo hard not to do, because to him it obviously just sounds like I am mocking him and that is clearly an incredibly sh!tty thing to do. But sometimes it will still slip out if i am at a point where I cant control it and I would give anything to not make him feel like that. It has gotten to the point where I wont even be home and just fixating on my MEMORIES of the tics are enough to get my heart racing and my stomach dropping. It just all feels so inescapable to me right now and I was hoping that anyone who has experienced anything even slightly similar might be able to offer some advice to make me feel less hopeless? Thanks in advance.

1 Comment
2024/12/04
03:03 UTC

2

Dr Karan Rajan’s post about misophonia today

Anyone else follow him? He finally posted on Instagram about the topic of misophonia today: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDILzluNQUQ/?igsh=ZzcyazI3bWI1eHFx

It’s likely on TikTok too, sorry I don’t have that link.

1 Comment
2024/12/04
02:25 UTC

1

Exercises to reduce anxiety from misophonia?

Hi. I'm new here. Not really talking about medical treatments (as per sub guidelines), but has anyone found any exercises that help with the symptoms? Are there common ones that help, like maybe immersion therapy?

1 Comment
2024/12/04
01:06 UTC

5

Misophonia AI for YouTube videos

What if we created an app where we had AI scan videos for us and "mute" sounds weird hate.

Settings such as:

Chewing

Eating

Crunching

Yawning

Burping

Smacking Etc.

The point of the app would be to scan the ENTIRE VIDEO and watch it for you.

So once it's done it would mute or lower the volume of a upcoming trigger sound thus you do not feel like you are "sucked out of the video" You are now left with no surprises of trigger sounds

I just thought of this idea! If someone can make this a reality please do it. 😭 I don't know how to code.

7 Comments
2024/12/03
21:54 UTC

16

Fork biters

Most of my misophonia comes from hearing other people eat. Some of my friends and family are super loud and thankfully most aren't. However, some of the people I interact with will bite their fork (It's twice as worse if it's metal) and just be fine with that. Every time someone bites a fork within the vicinity of me, a chill goes down my entire body. Should I talk to the person about not biting their fork or should I be polite and sort of suffer through it occasionally?

1 Comment
2024/12/03
20:44 UTC

5

Kid whining in the stairwell, whereas upper neighbour's kid runs above my head

I can't understand why do people just let their kids whine and shout like this in the stairwell. The recording is from my flat, from my bathroom, which does not share a wall with the stairwell... There are way too many kids living in this house, and they are always coming down the stairs like dinosaurs and shouting and whining and you can never hear the parents tell their kids to be a bit more quite and respectful. On the recording you can also hear how the other kid, is running above my head. We asked them already 3 times to be more considerate and not let it run around, but they just don't give a damn. This house will soon turn me into a child-hating monster. I really can't deal with kid noises, because I am instantly enraged by their inconsiderate retarded parents :(

2 Comments
2024/12/03
18:40 UTC

23

Do any of you have any songs you mostly really like, but hate something about it because of your misophonia and ask why they'd have it in the song and ruin it?

There's more, but one example I am thinking of right now is the song Kitchen Sink by Twenty One Pilots with parts where a feminine voice keeps doing a quick little loud inhale/exhale at certain parts.

Could they be trying to say that the sound is different to different people and the song is about something like misophonia similar to how they say a kitchen sink to you is not a kitchen sink to me, ok friend? When guys are singing and inhale it isn't as bad and can see them needing to inhale, but what you hear after you keep hearing leave me alone repeated isn't nice.

Or am I just still half asleep sitting here and hate misophonia?

38 Comments
2024/12/03
18:25 UTC

0

Donate $25 or more for Giving Tuesday and Receive 1 year of IMF Membership (Tier 2 - 11 months free!) #misophonia research.

Donate $25 or more for Giving Tuesday and Receive 1 year of IMF Membership (Tier 2 - 11 months free!) #misophonia research.

Every $1 donation funds 1 hour of machine learning research... that means $25 is 25 hours $40 means a 40 hour work week!

https://misophoniafoundation.com/shop/donate-25-or-more-for-giving-tuesday-receive-1-year-of-imf-membersip-11-months-free/

0 Comments
2024/12/03
18:08 UTC

27

People eating carrots

The wooooorst trigger for me is people eating fresh carrots. I literally die inside. Is there anyone experiencing the same ? How do you cope when the person next to you in office always eats carrots? My impulse is kicking her from her chair , but I obvsly don’t.

17 Comments
2024/12/03
17:07 UTC

3

My partner constantly smacks even when speaking or just randomly

All of a sudden my partner started smacking constantly when he speaks, when he starts a sentence, but also at random times when he's not speaking or anything. He's been doing it for days and it sounds so extremely disgusting and horrible. I pointed it out to him and he basically said he doesn't even notice it and it just won't stop. How do I cope with this?

1 Comment
2024/12/03
16:50 UTC

24

Constant snorting sound during cold season is killing me.

WTF. The constant snorting sound of phlegm or mucus building is giving me PTSD. I can’t take it and it’s everywhere…. Outside, work, my dating life lmao. And it’s not the snorting sound of a common cold or flu, that I can deal with… it’s like a combination of snoring and snorting at the same damn time. I had this dude I liked spend the night for the first time and I was awoken to the sounds of him constantly snorting. I confronted him about it and he said it’s his allergies with the saddest puppy dog face. I felt bad and went back to sleep, but he continued to do it over and over again. Like wtf are you allergic to that can be this detrimental? I told him he needs to go see an allergy specialist expeditiously lmao. Not gonna lie, it’s the most disgusting sound out of all the triggering sounds for me! Am I the only one that can’t take that loud sh*t!?

8 Comments
2024/12/03
15:48 UTC

6

Anyone else get really annoyed over certain pronunciations of words?

For instance, with Manhattan instead of saying "man-hah-tun" or "man-ha'n" some people say "man-hah-ihn". Or when someone says "buh-ihn" instead of "but-in" or "buh'n" for button. I really really hate it when people put a slight pause and really enunciate the "ihn" part as if its almost another word. Just annoys the hell out of me.

See exactly what I mean right here

33 Comments
2024/12/03
10:30 UTC

8

Product recommend - noise blocking ear phones you can actually sleep with!

I hope this isn't against the sub rules.

I've used Bluetooth sleep masks for ages, but they never really block enough sound for me, I sleep with a snoring partner. I googled around last week and found a relatively expensive product that promised to be exactly what I was looking for: proper in-ear ear phones, noise cancelling, that are comfortable to sleep in even for side sleepers.

It seemed unlikely to me, but I looked at the shape of them and thought, damn, maybe it could work! If they're selling it for that much it must work!

I took the risk and bought them, tried them for the first time last night and holy shit, it really worked.

The product is Anker Soundcore Sleepbuds. I'm not a salesman for them, this product literally changed my sleep-life, and I've been really deeply struggling with misophonia and with sleep. These are painless to have in even after 8 hours of sleep.

1 Comment
2024/12/03
09:49 UTC

2

Used to love Gold Rush

I used to love the show Gold Rush until Tony Beets "Beeps" joined and he curses so much and they use BEEEEEP!! BEEEEEEEPPPPP!! constantly through the show. I have tried so hard to watch it and I can't stand it. I wish somebody would take that show and edit out all the beeps. I would pay money for that. Is there any solution to this?

0 Comments
2024/12/03
08:59 UTC

0

A helpful tool for Misophonia

Ignatia Amara for Misophonia

Ignatia Amara, a homeopathic remedy, can help manage misophonia by calming emotional sensitivity, reducing stress, and balancing overactive nervous responses that amplify sound triggers. It's especially effective for those whose misophonia worsens with stress or emotional turmoil.

Symptoms It May Help With

Intense emotional reactions to

specific sounds (anger, irritation, or anxiety).

Increased sensitivity to noise during

stress or grief. Mood swings or suppressed emotions like sadness or frustration.

A "lump in the throat" sensation when

upset.

Nervous tension, headaches, or digestive discomfort linked to emotional stress. Restlessness or difficulty relaxing

after exposure to triggering sounds.

How to Use

  • Potency: Start with 30C.

Dosage: Take 3-5 sugar pellets under the tongue and let them dissolve, 1-2 times daily. Stop if symptoms improve significantly.

Where to Find: Available on Amazon or at natural food stores like Sprouts and Earth fair.

Benefits of Homeopathic Remedies

  1. Affordable: Remedies are

inexpensive, often under $10, and last for months. 2. Accessible: Available online (e.g.,Amazon) and in stores like Sprouts and Earth Fare without a prescription. 3. Minimal Side Effects: Made from natural, highly diluted substances, they are safe for all ages and rarely cause adverse effects. 4. Holistic Healing: Treats physical, emotional, and mental symptoms together, working with the body's natural healing process. 5. No Risk of Addiction: Remedies are non-habit forming and safe for long-term use.

Homeopathic remedies like Ignatia Amara work by stimulating your body's natural ability to heal and rebalance itself. For conditions like misophonia, this means you typically don't need to take the remedy long-term because homeopathy addresses the root cause of the issue rather than merely suppressing symptoms.

5 Comments
2024/12/03
04:50 UTC

19

The International Misophonia Foundation Submits Proposal to WHO for ICD-11 Classification of Misophonia

The International Misophonia Foundation (IMF) is proud to announce the submission of its proposal to the World Health Organization (WHO) to classify Misophonia as a discrete disorder in the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11). This marks a critical step in advocating for better recognition, treatment, and support for individuals living with this often-misunderstood condition. Misophonia, characterized by an intense emotional response to everyday sounds like chewing, tapping, or breathing, impacts millions of people worldwide.

Despite its significant effects on mental and emotional well-being, Misophonia remains underrecognized in medical and psychological communities. The IMF’s proposal is grounded in rigorous scientific research and strengthened by community engagement, including a petition signed by over 1,000 individuals who provided heartfelt testimonials advocating for formal classification.

“This proposal is a testament to the power of research and community voices coming together,” said Sharon Burns, spokesperson for the International Misophonia Foundation. “By submitting this to the WHO, we aim to validate the lived experiences of those with Misophonia and set the foundation for improved resources and care.”

The IMF’s submission draws on the latest research, emphasizing Misophonia’s neurophysiological basis. Importantly, the proposal integrates feedback from the Misophonia community, highlighting the social, emotional, and practical challenges faced by those affected. Looking ahead, the IMF is committed to fostering collaboration among researchers, advocates, and organizations to drive progress in understanding and addressing Misophonia.

“We envision a future where efforts to classify and treat Misophonia are unified, ensuring a global approach to tackling this condition,” Burns added.

The IMF encourages continued support from the public, researchers, and clinicians as it advances its mission to raise awareness and advocate for those living with Misophonia. Media Contact: Sharon Burns sharon@misophoniafoundation.com

Spokesperson The International Misophonia Foundation

VIEW MORE ABOUT OUR CAMPAIGN HERE: https://misophoniafoundation.com/who-icd-11-misophonia-proposal/

If you are a medical, mental health professional, clinician, concerned advocate, or researcher, you may view our proposal to the ICD-11 by registering and adding feedback on the platform: https://icd.who.int/dev11/Identity/Account/Register and going to the following page, once logged in. You must declare your organization to view proposals. It will not work unless you are first logged in: https://icd.who.int/dev11/proposals/f/icd/en#/http://id.who.int/icd/entity/1088544686?readOnly=true&action=AddNewEntityProposal&stableProposalGroupId=c9e67a54-ad7e-429e-9dd8-8d472b088c71. The ICD-11 allows for individuals to show support, "agree"/"disagree" or add comments on proposals.

0 Comments
2024/12/03
03:05 UTC

7

My dad

I love spending time with my dad but just tonight I noticed how many flapping mouth sounds he makes. Talking, eating, I think it’s part of growing older but how do I keep my sanity?

3 Comments
2024/12/03
02:46 UTC

1

Used to love Muppets Christmas Carol :(

The Muppet films have a certain nostalgia for me, especially Muppets Most Wanted (which I used to watch on repeat when I was like, 10) and Muppets A Christmas Carol.

I finally rewatched MACC last year, and I found that my misophonia kind of robbed me of reaping the nostalgia fix,. All because of Rizzo the Rat's damned lip-smacking. I had to stick my earbuds in and push them into my ears (big yikes for my hearing) but I couldn't do it in time to salvage the mood :(.

0 Comments
2024/12/03
00:53 UTC

12

Took a family road trip recently, leading to me listening to the radio for the first time in forever, when did ads get this disgusting?

There were three stands outs that I heard a ton. One was for this pancreatitis medicine with horrifically loud stomach noises. Another was for some credit card bonus thing where someone repeatedly slurps coffee and it’s awful. The final was more of an intro for the channel that was on, so I’m not sure how many of you have heard it, but it involves gulping and belching.

0/10 would not listen to again.

2 Comments
2024/12/02
23:54 UTC

5

im scared of the future

i am currently in highschool (im 15) and my misophonia is so bad that i often text my mom while im at school to come home but she usually doesnt agree😭😭 i think she understands that its a problem for me but she believes that school is the most important thing and the world will end if i miss one lesson. its so bad that i dont want to go to college and in my country almost everyone goes and im in one of the best schools so my parents will make me go. im afraid that i wont find a boyfriend who wont mind sleeping in the other room. im afraid i will hate my children for noises theyll make. im afraid that i wont go outside once i move out in order not to hear any sound. im still living somehow just because of my headphones and my parents are so mad that i do everything in them like sleeping or making smth do eat. the worst is the dinner because they just cant eat quietly and they get so mad when i dont want to eat w them. sometimes i think that i dont want to live that way, that its going to be worse. i only live for music and i didnt get tickets to my fav bands concert which makes me wanna die even more. i often dont want to hang out w my friends bcs they trigger me and i think they start to hate me for always yelling at them not to sniffle. i go to the psychiatrist and he prescribed me meds but they dont work. does it get easier?

5 Comments
2024/12/02
21:37 UTC

134

Why does my neighbor insist on leaf-blowing every day

The leaves are already gone, yet this loser feels the need to blow their driveway and roof from dust every day. That horrible mechanical whirring sound is so resonant that no frequency of fans or white noise can block it out. But hey, at least they finally take their barking dog inside while they're blowing. : )

50 Comments
2024/12/02
21:24 UTC

2

Practical advice on getting by

Hey guys, really struggling with my response to sound at the minute and would love some advice on just getting by.

It's been a rough year, with three deaths and a race riot so my nerves are absolutely shattered. we've just had new neighbours move in downstairs, there's nothing they're doing that's disrespectful, but any time I hear anything of them I get heart palpitations. It's a bizarre response, and I know the issue is with me as they are being respectful, they just don't don't know how the sound from their TV carries, etc. but it's like the stress of the year has translated into panic attack response from noises.

I am seeking therapy for how this year's been, but would appreciate any advice on calming the nerves with severe misophonia.

1 Comment
2024/12/02
08:29 UTC

6

Weekly Venting Thread

This is the weekly venting thread. You are only permitted to discuss venting in this thread. Please do not make violent posts, even in this thread. Keep it civil and respectful as much as possible.

6 Comments
2024/12/02
05:30 UTC

28

Soon to be mom...

Please delete if not allowed but I've been struggling with misophonia forever to the point where I didn't want to embark on parenthood, but I pushed past that fear and now I'm here. I am currently expecting nd I'm not sure how to handle a baby without being immediately triggered. Has anyone else gone through this before and have advice? I know I can use noise canceling headphone during the day but any other tips and tricks would be so helpful!

36 Comments
2024/12/02
04:38 UTC

15

Upstairs neighbor snoring through ceiling. Can’t sleep at night.

This is hell

10 Comments
2024/12/02
04:32 UTC

10

How to soundproof an apartment

Hi! I'm struggling with sounds coming through the floors and walls from a downstairs neighbors in my apartment building. I'm currently wearing earplugs and using noise cancelling headphones over them. I feel like I need to put rubber mats on the floors and foam on the walls or something serious -- does anyone know what the best soundproofing materials are for apartment-safe temporary renovations? White noise and brown noise are actually triggers for me so I can't use them to drown out the neighbors!

18 Comments
2024/12/02
03:22 UTC

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