What is the relationship between misophonia and chewing? Imagine sitting next to a person eating crispy potato chips, and the bag is making sounds, or he’s chewing loudly. Do you hate the sound? Does it feel like someone is dragging nails down on the blackboard? This is not normal, and you may be suffering from misophonia, which can lead to stress, anxiety, etc.
(Source)
Misophonia, which experts also refer to as ‘sensitivity syndrome’ for selective sound, is due to being sensitive towards certain sounds. Some common triggers are throat sounds, chewing loudly, nasal sounds which include a human blowing his nose, and repetitive noise such as clicking a pen or tapping. As it is a very challenging symptom, this condition is not related to your mental health. A 2015 research included 300 people suffering from misophonia. The study concluded that only 2.2 percent of them suffered from a mental health-related condition. It can be very distressing for the person who is suffering from misophonia and their loved ones. It can become a reason for fallout in relationships because a person suffering from misophonia cannot tolerate sounds, and hearing them can trigger his anger. Similarly, they cannot go to public places as sounds can irritate them a lot. Furthermore, the sensitivity of sounds that a romantic partner will make may feel critical, overbearing, and hurtful for the person with misophonia.
How Misophonia Affects Relationships
People suffering from misophonia may resist gaining acceptance and understanding from their partners. A partner may not accept misophonia; they may argue that the person is too sensitive or controlling. A person may feel embarrassed when their partner with misophonia cannot tolerate annoying noises and gets irritated and angry in public places.
If you are in a relationship and either one of you is dealing with misophonia, it can create clashes between both of you. Eventually, it will lead to criticism and hurting each other’s feelings. Some of the common issues in a relationship due to misophonia are:
1. Parenting Children Together
Many kids make repetitive, annoying, and loud sounds or noises. These can make a person with misophonia impatient and angry. On the other hand, if a child has misophonia, they can develop anger and cranky behavior when they grow up.
2. In Public
Common misophonia triggers are sounds of eating, clicking a pen, and the ticking of a clock. It can extend as far as traffic and driving-related sounds and sounds that the body makes.
3. Eating Together
The sounds of silverware scraping against the plate and chewing may trigger people suffering from misophonia.
4. Identifying and Understanding Misophonia
When a person with misophonia complains about certain sounds, their partner may think they are extremely critical or exaggerating.
It’s not just a few sounds such as chewing and tapping that trigger a person with misophonia – other sounds are just as worse. Some patients say that they experience physical sensations, while others say that it is disgust and revulsion. When a person with misophonia considers normal sounds annoying, a partner may feel criticized, shamed, and judged.
(Source)
Tips for Misophonia
People suffering from misophonia and its symptoms might improve their relationships by talking about it with their partner and close ones. You will have to visit a doctor who will diagnose you for misophonia. Research and therapy can prove effective for reducing the symptoms of misophonia.
While numerous causes lead to a person developing the condition, it’s crucial to tell your loved ones how you feel. For starters, you must tell your partner about the sounds that trigger you, such as chewing sounds. You can practice controlling this condition through positive affirmation, visualization, and deep breathing.
First, you need to identify all the triggers of misophonia. The more you know about the sounds that trigger you, the more quickly you can avoid this condition. One way to practice is to cover up your misophonia by slowly exposing yourself to the sounds in low-stress situations and low doses. This practice will work perfectly when you are doing it with a therapist and a doctor. You can also carry earplugs when you go to public places. This way, you won’t hear triggering sounds, which can be good for you and your partner.
Misophonia & Chewing: Conclusion
If the sound of chewing or any other irritating sound triggers you or your partner, you can visit our clinic. For appointments, you can contact us at 646-585-2251 or visit our website for complete details and our clinic’s location.