This is the #9 edition of our new My Misophonia Story series. This week features Eloise (18) from the UK. Each week we’ll feature a new reader story, so if you’d like to share yours, please drop us a line. Eloise, take it away…

Where are you from?

England.

What do you do for a living?

I’m a student at university studying to be a PE teacher.

What are you passionate about / what are your hobbies?

I love sport, so anything active. I also love animals, anything from cats and dogs to alpacas and chinchillas, I want to meet them!

How old were you when you first realised you had an issue with certain sounds?

I’d say about 13.

When did you first find out it was called misophonia?

Only about two years ago.

What are your 3 biggest triggers?

The classic – eating and slurping – but also anything with constant beats so ‘club’ music, ticking clocks, I can’t stand it when my dad cuts his toe nails!!

Do you have any other sensory quirks?

Not really, I just have very sensitive hearing, especially to high frequencies and static noises.

Have you told other people about your misophonia and if so what was their reaction?

I don’t really like telling people because it makes them very conscious about eating, obviously a very common thing in everyday life! But my family knows but don’t really take it seriously annoyingly. Being at uni I’ve met a lot of people that get annoyed at noise as well so feel much more comfortable telling people I have it now, but no one believes it’s really a thing.

What’s your funniest/most ridiculous misophonia-related moment?

I wouldn’t say mine are very ridiculous! There was one case on holiday where I had to take the batteries out of all the clocks because they weren’t only loud, but all out of time with one another!

What helps you to cope with your misophonia?

So I hate to do it but I leave the room if I have to. I’ve learnt to cope with loud eating in that everybody eats! It’s a way of life so I have to reason with myself haha! I find I often eat if somebody else is eating or copy them so I find it less annoying? Like tapping my pen or chewing gum if they are. I also just scratch my hand in my pocket or something to try and distract myself.

What are you misophonic superpowers?

I notice all the little things so I’m very observant which my friends like! I’m always one of the first to comment on a new hairstyle or something.

What’s the single most useful piece of misophonia related advice you’ve learnt?

Just to remind myself that people make noise!! There’s nothing they can do, I make noise that I’m sure annoys others so I try to just smile and nod till they finish.

What’s your very best life hack?

When the zip of your jeans start to go, use a keychain and loop it round the button to stop it falling down.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with your fellow misophones?

Just remember you’re not alone!! And don’t be afraid to ask people to quieten a bit. It’s becoming increasingly more common and people do understand that you get annoyed at things!

And finally! The quick fire round…

Favourite place you’ve visited:

Isle of Arran in Scotland, or anywhere in the Netherlands. Going to New Zealand soon so this could all change!! (My friend is an incredibly loud eater though so 24 hours on a plane will be interesting…!!)

Favourite song:

‘Stay’ by Lewis Watson

Favourite book:

Actually so hard!! I read so much I actually can’t choose sorry!

Favourite work of art:

Any of the Dementia Darnings by Jenni Dutton – massive canvases where she’s hand threaded wool to create pictures of her grandma with dementia and the stages. Something that means a lot to me as I work in a nursing home, but incredible work

5 things you couldn’t live without:

My cats, food – especially cheese haha, sport, naps and my friends and family

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