Hi!

Okay, to start with, I have generalized anxiety. I used to get irritated or overwhelmed occasionally with sounds. It was never triggered by specific sounds, and it didn't happen often at all. I assumed it was a kind of sensory overload based on my anxiety.

Nowadays, I'm medicated, and my anxiety is fairly low (for me). I moved back in with my parents (just graduated college in May) and I don't work the same hours as the rest of my family, so I'm home alone quite a bit. I usually have the TV on a low volume. Emotionally, I'm fine all day. Unfortunately, as soon as a member of my family comes home and starts talking to me, or turns on the TV, or even is cooking and I can hear metal spoons hitting pans and other kitchen sounds, I become really overwhelmed. It takes a lot for me not to cringe away from them. They get offended when I walk away because they're taking it personally (I do fine out in the world with sound, just not at home). I get really irritated and almost anxious (?) and all I can focus on is the sounds and how it's so loud and I can't think.

I tried Googling, but all I could find was misophonia. My reactions seem to match, but misophonia seemed to have specific triggers. I haven't discovered any specific triggers, just sound in general. Any idea what's wrong with me or how I can start functioning better?