It’s a basic necessity of life. We all need to do it.
So why does hearing you chew make me want to jump out of my skin?

Every bite you take.
Every chew.
Every swallow.

It all bothers me.

I’m crazy, right?

What is Misophonia?

Misophonia literally means “hatred of sound.” It’s a neurological condition where certain everyday sounds trigger strong emotional reactions. These aren’t just “annoying sounds”—for people with misophonia, they can provoke real distress. Common triggers include chewing, slurping, breathing, tapping, or other repetitive noises.

Fact: Misophonia is recognized by researchers and mental health professionals, though it isn’t yet officially classified in the DSM-5 (the main manual for psychiatric diagnoses).

When you hear someone breathing and you just can’t ask them to stop!
-Me

How Misophonia Feels

It CANNOT be quiet when we eat. If we’re eating in front of the TV to catch up on the day’s events after work, the volume instantly jumps from 12 to 22—even if we’re both eating. If we have guests over for dinner, the record player is spinning one of our favourite vinyls (and I’ve strategically positioned myself closest to the music).

Eating out is actually great—not just because I don’t have to cook, but because there’s always background noise. Music. Other people’s conversations. Enough sound in the air that I can’t hear you chew. That said, sometimes the loud music is also… a lot. But I’ll still take it over silence and mouth sounds.

The absolute worst, though, is hearing people “sap” while they eat. I don’t know if there’s a formal word for this, but in my French family, we call it sapping—that smacking noise people make when they eat. I remember being young and my mémère snapping, “Arrête de sapper!!” (Stop smacking!!)

Heaven forbid someone is eating, and I’m not.

Say you’re having a snack and we’re talking… oh goodness. I will never say anything to you—because I know this is my weird thing—but inside, it’s grating on my nerves. I’m staring down your snack, trying to determine how much longer I have to endure this.

The worst foods are the crunchy ones: apples, chips, and celery.

If I don’t know you well (or you’re not family), I’ll never say anything rude—whether you’re eating normally or you’re full-on sapping. I have, however, asked things like,
“Are you almost done?”
or
“Aren’t you going to save some of that for later?”

That’s me being sly and saying: please hurry the f*ck up, I’m about to lose my sh@t 😝

Common Triggers

People with misophonia are acutely aware that the sounds triggering them usually don’t bother anyone else. Here’s what sets off my brain:

Mouth / Eating sounds: chewing, crunching, gulping, gum chewing, kissing sounds, nail biting, silverware scraping teeth or plates, slurping, sipping, licking, smacking, spitting, sucking (ice, etc.), swallowing, talking with food in the mouth, lip smacking, teeth grinding, throat clearing, jaw clicking.

Breathing / Nasal / Vocal sounds: breathing, sniffling, snorting, snoring, nose whistling, humming, muffled talking, nasally voices, overused words like um or ah, whisper‑like voices, whistling.

Environmental sounds: texting clicks, keyboard or mouse sounds, pen clicking, paper rustling or ripping, ticking clocks.

Utensils / Metals: dishes clattering, forks scraping teeth, silverware hitting plates or rattling together, loose change in pockets.

Body movement: foot shuffling or tapping, finger snapping, foot dragging, flip‑flops slapping, knuckle or joint cracking, nail biting or clipping, jaw movement, fidgeting.

Fact: Everyone’s triggers are different. Someone with misophonia might be fine with one sound but completely lose it over another.

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How Misophonia Affects Life

Depending on severity, reactions can range from mild to intense. You might feel anxious, uncomfortable, disgusted, or have the urge to flee.

For others, it can escalate to rage, anger, fear, emotional distress, or an overwhelming desire to make the sound stop. Sometimes it literally feels like your skin is crawling.

Personally, mine isn’t debilitating. I get spikes of extreme irritation, but I can still function. Some people can’t socialize, work, or maintain relationships because of it—and compared to that, I know I’m lucky.

Most of the time, I chalk it up to: holy crap, this sound is annoying the bejesus out of me. I tolerate it as long as I have to. If I can’t, I remove myself and move on.

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Coping Strategies

Here’s what helps me survive eating with other humans:

• Background noise: TV, music, restaurant chatter
• Strategic seating in rooms
• Politely excusing myself or stepping away
• Counting down bites and waiting for the sound to end

Fact: There’s no official cure yet, but therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), sound therapy, and counseling can help manage reactions. Mindfulness or relaxation techniques can also help reduce stress caused by triggers.

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Bottom Line

Misophonia is a real condition—not just being easily annoyed.
For me, it’s usually manageable, but there are moments where I just want to disappear until the last bite is gone.

For that entire time you’re enjoying your snack?
I’m just counting down the bites 🤯

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