This is the #34 edition of our My Misophonia Story series. This week features Sydney (16) from the USA. Each week we’ll feature a new reader story, so if you’d like to share yours, please drop us a line. Sydney, take it away…
Where are you from?
Ohio, USA.
What do you do for a living?
I go to school and occasionally babysit.
What are you passionate about / what are your hobbies?
I’m passionate about music and I love to play the ukulele.
How old were you when you first realised you had an issue with certain sounds?
I was around 8-10 years old… I don’t know what exact year it was but I can remember being really young (it was when my sister got braces and started chewing like a cow).
When did you first find out it was called misophonia?
I remember being so mad at my sister because she told me I had a “disease” but she was talking about misophonia. She was looking up why I was so mad at her all the time, so around age 11.
What are your 3 biggest triggers? [bg_collapse view=”link” color=”#eb9500″ icon=”arrow” expand_text=”Click to Show Triggers” collapse_text=”Click to Hide Triggers” ]1. ANY eating sound (especially gum chewing because gum is an unnecessary thing to eat compared to actual food)
2. Loud breathing
3. Snorting the snot back up your sinuses[/bg_collapse]
Do you have any other sensory quirks?
I don’t like seeing triggers. It doesn’t happen as often as audible triggers, but it hurts me just the same.
Have you told other people about your misophonia and if so what was their reaction?
I have told other people and only certain people actually care and respect me. Others make the noises I tell them are triggers and treat the disorder as if it’s a joke…
What’s your funniest/most ridiculous misophonia-related moment?
One time my most obnoxious friend was eating those cheap peach gummy rings and goes, “Sydney I have a secret” (we were really young, but she knew what triggered me) and she starts chewing really loud and so I hauled off and hit her. Don’t worry she was okay she was just really mad at me and cried a little bit, but she still makes fun of the disorder to this day, so it helped nothing.
What helps you to cope with your misophonia?
Plugging my ears with my fingers in class.
Trying to make a beat out of the sound so I don’t hate it so much.
What are your misophonic superpowers?
I feel like I don’t have many super powers other than I can hear really small sounds, so whispering is kind of pointless around me, and it has helped me with babysitting.
What’s the single most useful piece of misophonia related advice you’ve learnt?
“Just ignore it” lol I’m just kidding that’s ridiculous… I guess knowing from my own advice that not everyone is trying to trigger you it just happens to be a time you’re triggered and that they’re around.
What’s your very best life hack?
Be confident in everything you do opportunities are everywhere.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with your fellow misophones?
Don’t give up hope you’ve got this and you’re not alone!!
And finally! The quick fire round…
Favourite place you’ve visited:
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Favourite song:
When You’re Ready, Nervous, or A Little Too Much-all by Shawn Mendes
Favourite book:
Ninth Ward (children’s chapter book)
Favourite work of art:
Guernica by Pablo Picasso
5 things you couldn’t live without:
My phone (helps me escape and I have internet friends)
Music
Friends and family
My faith
Water lol
i have,misophonia .i was very very interested in SYDNEY FROM USA .her.story .even more so when they said part there problem is,SNORTING SNOT BACK UP SINUSES ..i have this problem a great deal .well with misophonia MY ISSUES ARE BODY ISSUES like
Snot ..could you pass my e.mail on too Sydney
please
my blog.http;//mark-kent.webs.com
i am on Linkedin,AutismDad
i am on twitter,supersnooper
My heart goes out to you Sydney, you are so young having to deal with this. Generally people don’t understand, even if they try to. I often tell people that for me certain sounds are like fingernails down a chalk board. Its not the same, but it starts to give them something they can relate to to try to understand…..
i can relate my siblings were terrible to me too and i often resorted to violent out-breaks but now i’m older and similar to your age, i’ve managed to control my rage better and instead take myself out of the situation-also with a bit of help from Shawn Mendes 😉