So, what are some of the most common sounds that can trigger people with misophonia? Gregory pointedly didn’t include a detailed list in her book as some people, when they hear about sounds that trigger others, start listening out for them. However, some common sounds seem to be related to eating, loud breathing and repetitive sounds such as keyboards and phones.

Gregory says there are two sides to how we hear and react to sounds, with the first being situations where certain sounds are more likely to be heard. Examples of these include mealtimes (eg loud chewing) or quiet activities such as watching a film at the cinema where distressing sounds (eg eating popcorn) can crop up.

However, Gregory explains that the second side to how we react to sounds is all about control – which makes my recent flight experience make a lot more sense. “If you’re distressed by a certain sound, it can already make you feel trapped, but when you know that you cannot leave a situation, like being on a plane, it can intensify the feeling of being out of control,” Gregory says.

The intensity of misophonia can also be exacerbated by how long a person has to listen to that specific sound. “A lot of people may be able to handle a short burst of a sound, but if it keeps going and you don’t know when it’s going to stop, it can become very distressing,” Gregory explains. She also says that this is why chewing gum is a big offender as you don’t know when that chewing is going to stop, compared to, say, a person eating a packet of crisps, for example.

And context can be key. “Our research is showing that it isn’t just the acoustic properties of sound that play a role in misophonia but also the context. Am I in control here? Is the person doing something wrong? Can they help it? These kinds of questions all seem to feed into a person’s reaction.”

While Sounds Like Misophonia set out to be a self-help book, Gregory also shares her own experiences. “As I started writing it, I just started picturing myself as a teenager. And I wanted to write this in a way that she could pick it up, get to know the person on the other side of the page, and feel better about herself.”

Having a term to describe my own experiences on public transport has made me feel less alone in my intense (and often angry) reactions to loud repetitive sounds. It’s as if there’s a sense of solidarity in the frustration of hearing a colleague loudly type away in the office or having to hear someone’s playlist bleed through their headphones on the train. And the next time I’m stuck on a flight near someone who’s watching Netflix out loud, I’ll take comfort in the fact that I’m not alone in my seemingly disproportionate fury.

Misophonia: what the world’s leading expert wants you to know about the sounds that make you scream