If You Hate The Noises People Make When Eating, You Might Have This Condition

Even though it’s really nice to sit down and share a meal with your family, it might be painful. And no, not because you had a rough day that you don’t want to talk about. If you’re bothered by the sound of someone else eating, it can be hard to enjoy your own meal. It might sound like a weird quirk, but don’t worry — you’re not alone.

If you hate the sound of other people chewing, you might actually be dealing with a specific condition. It’s called misophonia, and some people have it so bad that they need to cope with a therapist.

Misophonia isn’t all that common. Just around 200,000 cases spring up per year in the United States. But if you’ve noticed that you’re sensitive to noise like gum chewing or soup slurping, to the point where you’re visibly distressed? You might be one of the few.

According to WebMD, those affected might actually have moments of rage when they hear the noise in question. Other responses include panic, fear, and even suicidal thoughts. While eating noises aren’t the only trigger, they’re a common one. Since eating is something that’s hard to avoid, those who suffer might find themselves changing their entire lifestyle, avoiding events in which the sounds may be heard.

A study in Current Biology proved that misophonia was a legitimate condition, finding that people who have it also have a difference in their brain’s frontal lobe. Another study proved that having misophonia might be an additional challenge for people trying to learn a new skill or broaden their level of education.

If you’re sensitive about noises, and have actually gotten angry or anxious about hearing a particular sound, it’s possible you have misophonia — and a support group and some self-care might make things easier to manage.