Have you ever heard of Misophonia? Misophonia is a condition where people are disturbed by common, everyday sounds. Many people cringe hearing nails scraping on a blackboard or are annoyed by heavy breathing or lip-smacking, but people with misophonia have a much more profound reaction. They might feel intense anger, anxiety, fear, or disgust when they hear these noises. They may also experience physical symptoms like goosebumps, sweating, increased heart rate, elevation of blood pressure, chest pressure, or chest tightness. People with extreme cases of misophonia might even lash out verbally or physically toward the source of triggering sounds.
These reactions seem like they’d be bad enough to experience by themselves. However, in addition to undergoing these emotional and biological responses, people with misophonia can also end up isolating themselves from friends and family or refraining from being in certain places in order to avoid exposing themselves to triggering sounds. Imagine all the locations and environments where you might come into contact with misophonic triggers: the family dinner table, in your cubicle at work, taking a test in school, eating at a restaurant, being in an elevator with someone with a cold, studying at the library, sitting in a movie theater, listening to a lecture in college or a sermon at church. Certainly, anywhere there are human beings there is the potential for misophonic triggering. The Cleveland Clinic provides the following list of common triggering sounds by category.
Triggering Sounds
- Eating and drinking noises – Smacking lips; chewing (especially with mouth open) food or gum; crunching sounds; slurping; loud swallowing or gulping.
- Breathing noises – Snoring, sniffling or nose blowing; heavy breathing.
- Activity and movement noises – Tapping fingers or toes; clicking a pen; loud typing; eating utensil sounds.
- Mouth/throat noises – Throat clearing; coughing; loud kissing.
- Other – Ticking (watch or clock); plumbing (toilet flushing or water dripping); ringing (bell or phone); animal sounds; rustling (paper or plastic).
Research shows that misophonia is more common than you might think, with some sources showing it occurring in 2% of the population and others indicating that up to 5% of people may experience symptoms at some point in their lives. That’s about 1 in 20 people! The incidence of misophonia is greater than that of autism, anorexia, obsessive compulsive disorder, or schizophrenia. Misophonia often begins in early childhood or adolescence and is seen 55% to 85% more in women than in men. Symptoms occur on a continuum, or progression, where some people may only have mildly negative reactions to triggering sounds whereas others experience extreme responses. It is also important to note that triggering sounds are different for different people. One person may be fine with eating noises but become upset when they hear a dripping faucet.
We don’t know, yet, what causes misophonia. It is believed that a triggering sound is misinterpreted by the brain as an indication of danger or toxicity, which then activates a kind of protective response similar to a fight-or-flight response. If this is the case, there would be some difference in the brain structure and function of people with this condition. Indeed, Misophonia has been linked with certain neurodivergent and other brain disorders as well as hearing disorders such as hearing loss and tinnitus. Scientists have also observed that there is a genetic component at work. Misophonia runs in families. It is also more prevalent in people who have other mental health conditions such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, Tourette syndrome, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and borderline personality disorder. More research needs to be done to determine misophonia’s causes and, hopefully, develop more effective treatments.
At this point, we can provide some help to people who suffer with misophonia. Although the emotional and physical responses to triggering sounds seem to be automatic, mental health practitioners can help people learn ways to avoid triggers by using noise-cancelling headphones or distracting color noises (white noise, brown noise). They can also help people to prevent the behaviors triggering sounds elicit. For example, using cognitive behavioral therapy, practitioners can assist clients to change their thinking about how they interpret sounds. When they are triggered, people might learn to remind themselves they are safe. Clients are also taught to separate their reactive behavior from the triggering noise by pausing and performing a relaxation technique to calm the nervous system. It is reported that just knowing you are experiencing a legitimate condition and that you are not alone really helps.
Since misophonia often begins in childhood or early adolescence, parents and family of young people need to be aware of the condition of misophonia and its symptoms. Samantha Cooper, in her article in Counseling Today quotes Samantha Bookman, a licensed marriage and family therapist who specializes in treating adolescents with misophonia, “Clinicians should encourage parents to both validate their children’s reality (and suffering) with compassion and hold boundaries on dangerous or harmful behavior. Misophonia is a reason children may act out, but it is not an excuse for damaging behavior.” Most important to know is that misophonia is a treatable condition. There is professional help available for children and adults with this disorder. Consult a licensed mental health professional for treatment.
To speak with a professional counselor about any mental health concerns, please contact Olive Branch Counseling Associates, Inc. at 708-633-8000. We are located at 6819 167th St. in Tinley Park, IL 60477, offering in-person and telehealth appointments. It is our pleasure to be of service to you.
Molly V.
Graduate Intern, 2025
Olive Branch Counseling Associates, Inc.
References:
Cleveland Clinic. (2023, June 20). Misophonia: What It Is, Triggers, Symptoms & Treatment. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24460-misophonia
Cooper, S. (2025, July). Munch, Click, Mmmm: The Sounds that Make People Angry. Counseling Today, 68(4), 29–31.
soQuiet Misophonia Advocacy. (n.d.). SoQuiet Misophonia Advocacy. https://www.soquiet.org/
CounselingMatters.live 
Leave a comment