Annoyed, Sensitive, Triggered: What’s the Difference!?
In the past, I’ve been told I’m “Just so intolerant” of certain sounds, but it’s not about being sensitive or simply annoyed by them (honestly, I wish it was).
It’s a neurological response beyond my control, where my brain reacts unusually to certain sounds, triggering overwhelming emotional reactions like rage, anxiety, or panic.
For me, it can look a bit like this:
Whistling = Triggered
A high-pitched, loud scream = Sensitive
Loud revving and tyre screeching when someone floors it up the street = Annoyed
Think of it this way: Sensitive could mean a sound is somewhat jarring or a bit of a shock—something that’s a little too loud or sharp for most people’s ears, but it doesn’t necessarily trigger a strong emotional reaction. It’s the kind of sound that might make you wince or feel like it could cause a headache or overwhelm, but you can usually brush it off and move on. Annoyed, on the other hand, refers to sounds that are irritating or grating—those little things that test your patience. It’s bothersome, but it doesn’t lead to the intense, overwhelming emotional response that misophonia does. You might feel frustrated, but you’re still in control of your emotions.
Honestly, I’m not sure if that’s the best explanation, but I hope it helps. I feel like most people would be sensitive to a loud, high-pitched scream and would get the ick when someone floors their car down a suburban street. But... I assume most of you wouldn’t even notice the whistling?
That’s just it, ladies and gents, these sounds might seem harmless to some, but for those with misophonia, they’re anything but. A lot of common triggers are so commonplace, so everyday, that most people wouldn’t bat an eyelid. Whistling, pen clicking, breathing, tapping, bass from music, clocks ticking, noisy eaters… actually, scratch that last one… Ha, no one likes a noisy eater!
The fact that they are so commonplace makes it even more difficult to avoid and makes it so much harder for people who don’t suffer from misophonia to understand what on earth the big deal is! To be fair, I can actually understand why people would be confused. Misophonia awareness is still in its infancy amongst the general public (which is why I’m here sharing my thoughts with you), and when triggers evoke reactions like anxiety and rage, it’s no wonder people think we are intolerant or simply annoyed. For misophones (a term gaining popularity for people with misophonia!), triggers like noisy eating aren’t just annoying, they aren’t being sensitive, it’s not just gross or rude, it’s simply one of many noises that triggers that uncontrollable and highly inconvenient neurological response.
Now, I don’t think everyone should tiptoe around misophones for fear of provoking a reaction. We all live in this world together, and we can’t cater to everyone—people can’t help breathing (sadly, yes, the sound of breathing is a trigger for some!). I’m so lucky it’s not one of my triggers, but we can still strive to be informed and understanding of one another.
How liberating would it be if there were more awareness and understanding of misophonia? Imagine having reasonable accommodations at work, politely asking someone to stop whistling, being able to leave a triggering environment without judgement, or wearing headphones in situations where it might otherwise seem odd or unacceptable.
I like to imagine a world where people truly understand what it feels like to be triggered, rather than dismissing it as simply being annoyed or overly sensitive. While this might seem like a far off dream, the reality is that misophonia is slowly but surely becoming more talked about and researched. And here’s a little guilty pleasure of mine... I like to sit back, wine in hand, and imagine that this little blog in my tiny corner of the internet is making a difference.