Explaining misophonia to family and friends
Ways to explain your reactions to sound and discuss specific arrangements for shared meals and other situations.
Misophonia
Specific sounds can trigger strong emotional or physical reactions, even when they aren’t loud.
What is misophonia?
Misophonia involves decreased tolerance to specific sounds or associated stimuli. The pattern or meaning of a sound, rather than its volume alone, can bring on strong emotional, physical, or behavioral reactions. Read the source ↗
A trigger can be quiet and still feel overwhelming. Reactions and triggers differ between people, and context can matter. You do not need to prove your experience by listening to something distressing.
Preparing to discuss your symptoms
If sound is affecting daily life, bring examples and questions to a qualified clinician.
- Describe your experience in your own words: what happens, when it happens, and how it affects your day.
- Bring your questions to a qualified clinician. They can help you understand symptoms and discuss appropriate support.
- You do not need to reproduce a distressing sound to describe its effect.
Where Haelan fits
Haelan focuses on education and everyday wellbeing for hyperacusis and misophonia, with additional content about tinnitus and fear of sound. It brings lessons, reflection, breathing exercises, guided meditations, and optional sound tools into one app.
The app cannot assess your hearing, determine the cause of symptoms, or tell you which sound practices are suitable for you. Sound tools are optional; stop if they cause pain or discomfort and seek individual advice.
Explore our approachFurther reading
Swedo et al. (2022): Consensus Definition of Misophonia ↗
Preparing for a hearing appointment