Misophonia is a chronic condition that involves people having distressing emotional reactions to specific sound triggers. Misophonia, literally meaning “hatred of sounds,” is also referred to as selective sound sensitivity syndrome.

Trigger sounds are often repetitive and associated with human actions, like chewing, breathing, throat clearing, humming or tapping. Other examples include water dripping, typing on a keyboard, pen clicking, and crinkling paper. Some research has also found that visual triggers, such as leg swinging, can cause misophonia in affected individuals. People’s responses to the triggers involve intense emotional reactions such as anger, disgust, annoyance, irritation, panic or shame.

People can also experience physical symptoms such as sweating, increased heart rate or muscle tension. Misophonia can cause people to try to avoid places or situations where they might encounter triggers, or to cover their ears, walk away, or assertively ask others to stop the noises. People with misophonia may also mimic the action of the trigger person, which one study found brings some relief from the distress.

Misophonia is not formally recognized as a neurological or psychiatric disorder. However, “experts still recognize it,” notes a recent post from the American Medical Association. While many people may be bothered by certain sounds and have negative reactions, misophonia involves extreme reactions and distress that significantly impact a person’s life.

Misophonia is associated with difficulty with relationships, social interactions, and school or work. It can potentially be very isolating for individuals, as they may avoid situations where trigger sounds are common such as sharing meals with family, public transportation or social situations.

A recent study lead by Andrew Giles Guzick, Ph.D., with the University of Pennsylvania, looked at misophonia among teens. They found a significant impact on the teens’ quality of life. This was especially true among those with more triggers, who may experience more distress and may be hypervigilant in anticipation of encountering them. Some research has found that greater sensitivity and reactions to misophonia triggers is associated with reduced emotion regulation abilities—a reduced ability to control one’s emotional states and feelings such as sadness, anxiety, or anger.

Coping with Misophonia

To cope with misophonia, experts suggest that people be aware of their triggers and identify or create spaces where they can be without those triggers. Using sound protection, like earplugs or noise-canceling headphones, or listening to something that is pleasant or distracting, can also help.

In addition, it may be helpful to treat any underlying mental health issues with medication or talk therapy. Mindfulness and relaxation techniques may be useful in coping with stress and distress. Guzick and colleagues also emphasize the importance of promoting general well-being and life satisfaction as part of comprehensive treatment approach.