Misophonia symptoms to look out for as experts warn condition can ruin relationships

Symptoms of Misophonia can trigger emotional responses as people are warned it could ruin relationships.

We’ve all been there; sat right across from someone slapping their chops while eating or loudly slurping, much to the annoyance of those around them.

But some people experience it more severe to the point these noises trigger emotional responses such as anger, with many describing the sounds as enough to ‘drive you crazy’.

Those who experience these extreme reactions when people eat, drink, cough or even breathe, may feel some comfort in knowing that it is actually a condition called Misophonia.

One in five adults live with the disorder, also known as ‘sound rage’ or ‘phobia of specific sounds’, and it can even go as far as to ruin relationships.

Suffers of the condition experience decreased tolerance to specific sounds and things you can sense related to them. 

While it doesn’t yet have official recognition as a distinct disorder, experts still recognise it. There’s now a formal consensus definition for research purposes, and for diagnosing and treating it.

But not everyone is aware of Misophonia, or knows whether or not they have it. So what exactly are the symptoms you should be looking out for?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, it is categorised as ‘a disorder where you have a decreased tolerance to specific sounds and things you can sense related to them’.

The clinic lists Misophonia symptoms as:

• Anger
• Anxiety
• Disgust
• Fear
• Irritation
• Blood pressure increases
• Chest pressure or tightness
• Goosebumps 
• Heart rate increases
• Sweating
• Avoiding situations where trigger sounds can happen
• Leaving the area when a trigger sound happens
• Verbal or vocal reactions, such as talking or yelling at who/what made the sound
• Non-violent action to stop the sound
• Violent action to stop the sound (rare)

Dr Jane Gregory, a clinical psychologist at the University of Oxford is co-authoring an upcoming scientific paper from King’s College London that shows that 18% of adults in the UK suffer from it.

She says people struggle to find a polite way to communicate to others, including loved ones, that the noises they make are making us feel negative responses, which can lead to the breakdown of a relationship.

Dr Gregory said: “You are essentially telling someone ‘The sound of you eating and breathing – the sounds of you keeping yourself alive – are repulsing me’. It’s really hard to find a polite way to say that.”

If you think you may know someone who suffers from Misophonia, you may want to find a way to gently tell them about the disorder and the kind of symptoms it can trigger. It may help them communicate with loved ones and get to understand why they feel the way they do.