Everyday sounds such as breathing, yawning, or chewing can trigger a random stress response in some people. Now, scientists say this condition is known as Misophonia.

Collaborative research from King’s College, London, and the University of Oxford suggests 18.4% of the general U.K. population is affected by misophonia. The research, published in the journal PLOS One, was the first-ever attempt to assess the impact of the condition on the general population, according to a University of London press release.

The researchers ran a campaign on at least 772 people from across different ages, sex, and ethnicities to understand the intensity and complexity of misophonia, and how the noise triggers irritated them. As part of the campaign, they were given a questionnaire, and, as it turned out, only 13.6% of them heard of the term, and 2.3% identified as having the condition.

Meaning, there are a lot of people who are affected in the general U.K. population without knowing the term that describes how they react to sounds. The study noted misophonia affects men and women alike and the severities fizzle out with age.

What is misophonia

Misophonia is defined as “a phenomenon that causes strong emotions and reactions to certain ‘trigger’ sounds.” The symptoms of this condition can range from intense anger, anxiety, or disgust, and the outburst in large part depends on the person’s capacity to control their emotions, according to Cleveland Clinic.

“The experience of misophonia is more than just being annoyed by a sound. Misophonia can cause feelings of helplessness and be trapped when people can’t get away from an unpleasant sound,” senior study author Dr. Jane Gregory, from the department of experimental psychology at the University of Oxford, said in a statement.

Symptoms

There is only one dominant symptom of the condition--a strong negative emotion whenever one hears the triggering sounds. It may exert responses like feeling irritated, angry, nervous, anxious, or a sense of tightness throughout the body, as pointed out by Healthline.

Common triggers

  • Chomping or crunching
  • Slurping
  • Swallowing
  • Loud breathing
  • Pen clicking
  • Shoes scuffing
  • Birds or crickets chirping

Gregory said though the exact cause of misophonia still remains unknown, there may be many factors behind the condition, such as brain structure differences, family history, genetics, or other conditions.

“The experience of misophonia is more than just being annoyed by a sound. Misophonia can cause feelings of helplessness and be trapped when people can’t get away from an unpleasant sound. Often those with misophonia feel bad about themselves for reacting the way they do, especially when they are responding to sounds made by loved ones. More research is needed to understand what causes misophonia and how we can help those people whose symptoms disrupt their day-to-day lives,” he said.

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