When did you first notice that watching certain repetitive movements caused you discomfort? Can you recall the specific age or life stage, and do you remember what that first triggering experience was like?
8 years old, normal flight of fight response. Leave or stop the movement
Before you knew there was a name for it, how did you make sense of these reactions? What did you tell yourself or other people?
I didn’t really tell anyone until my current relationship
How did you first discover the term “misokinesia,” and what was it like to realize there was a name for what you were experiencing?
Internet, I believe on Facebook
What kinds of repetitive movements trigger you most, and what is it about them? The body part, the speed, the rhythm, the size, how predictable or unpredictable they are, whether you’re seeing it directly or in your peripheral vision, or something else entirely?
Foot shaking,playing with hair, recently dog licking foot
Does who is making the movement affect your reaction (for example, a stranger versus someone close to you)?
Mostly people I’m around frequently
Do you experience reactions to your own repetitive movements, or does it only happen when observing others? If you can trigger a reaction in yourself, how does that experience differ from watching someone else?
Just others, I compare it to you can’t tickle yourself
Does the intensity of your reactions vary day-to-day? What internal or external factors seem to make your misokinesia better or worse (such as stress, fatigue, anxiety, or your environment)?
No
Are there any repetitive movements or visual patterns that you actually find calming or enjoyable? If so, what makes them different?
No
Can you walk me through what happens in your body and mind when you see a triggering movement? I’m curious about the full experience — the physical sensations (like tension, itching, or restlessness), the emotions (like anxiety, irritation, or anger), and any immediate urges or impulses you feel (like wanting the person to stop or needing to leave).
Just flight or flight, meaning dealing with it by blocking or stopping it, or leaving the room.
Can you help me understand the range of your reactions by describing what a mild reaction feels like versus a severe one? How do these different intensities affect your ability to function in that moment?
If it’s a repulsive act to be it more of a quick animated response, dog licking foot, person picking dead skin. If is foot shaking I can block it and be ok
Once a triggering situation ends (whether you’ve left, the movement has stopped, or the person has moved on), what is that experience like for you? How long does it usually take to recover, and is there anything that helps?
I’m ok
Can remembering a past triggering experience bring back some of the physical or emotional sensations? How do memories of triggers compare to the real-time experience?
It doesn’t bother me to remember it
Do you also experience misophonia or sensitivities to repetitive sounds? If so, how do those experiences compare?
Yes, similar
In what ways has misokinesia shaped your daily life — the choices you make, the spaces you seek out or avoid, the things you plan around?
I’m in a relationship with high movement person, they try and accommodate me
Do you experience anticipatory anxiety about potential triggers before entering certain situations? How does that affect you?
Yes, it the same feeling. I explain it as someone disliking fingernails mown a chalkboard. If someone puts their fingernails on the chalkboard you prepare for the event, it’s the same reaction as the event
How has misokinesia influenced your choice of hobbies, sports, or recreational activities? Are there activities you avoid or have had to modify?
No, activities are easy, hard to have repeating movements when active
How has misokinesia affected your experiences with transportation and travel — on buses, trains, planes, or elsewhere?
It hasn’t for the most part. You anticipate movement from people you know
How do misokinesia-related triggers on screens (e.g., video calls, social media, movies, gaming) compare to in-person triggers? Do you find yourself avoiding certain media as a result?
No problem
Has misokinesia influenced your career path, job choices, or educational decisions? Have you avoided certain fields, roles, or learning environments?
No
How does misokinesia affect your daily experience at work or school?
They never did
What coping strategies or workarounds have you developed to manage it in those settings? Do you ever feel pressure to hide your reactions or ‘push through’ triggering situations?
I block or stop repeating movements. I first noticed when 8, with my mom when she was reading. She had a repeating movement with hand, I would hold her hand, she would get irritated over time. Later as a teen my dad played with his beard, I blocked it with a pillow when watching tv. My now wife I use a pillow to block feet.
How do you decide whether to disclose your misokinesia to employers, teachers, or colleagues? What factors influence that choice?
No, was alone in a car most of the time
Do you feel you need accommodations or support at work or school because of misokinesia? Have you been able to ask for them, and if so, what happened?
No
Has misokinesia affected you financially — whether through direct costs, career impacts, or the everyday expenses of creating environments that work for you?
No
How does misokinesia affect your social life? Are there types of gatherings or social settings that are especially difficult to navigate?
No
How does misokinesia impact your close relationships with family, friends, or romantic partners? How do they react to your sensitivity, and how do you navigate these interactions?
Yes, just the feeling of control. I feel like I’m constantly trying to stop my wife’s movements. It makes me feel overbearing to her
Does misokinesia play any role in your experience or thoughts around parenting — past, present, or future? I’m curious about everything from whether it influenced your family planning decisions, to how you navigate it with your own children if you have them.
No
What’s it like explaining misokinesia to others, and have you ever felt misunderstood or judged in response to your reactions?
No
Because misokinesia is so little-known, have you ever found yourself doubting your own experience, or feeling pressure to prove that what you’re experiencing is real?
No, I believe it’s inherited. I think my mother had an extreme response when I cracked my knuckles. I don’t remember any other sound issues she had but I didn’t pay that much attention
Do you ever find yourself judging or criticizing your own reactions to triggering movements? If so, what does that internal experience look like?
I understand it’s not my fault, It’s just how my brain is wired
How has having misokinesia shaped your worldview or your sense of identity? Do you think of it as a disability, a difference, or something else?
I think it is a brain disorder, how I receive input from the outside and now my brain perceives it as a fighter fight situation. Since I’ve had it since I was eight years old and I’m now 58 I don’t feel like it’s from one event. It’s just the way my brain receives information.
Have you ever spoken to a healthcare professional about your misokinesia? What was that experience like?
Yes, I spoke to a counselor. He didn’t work to help.
Have you found any online communities, research, or resources that have helped you feel understood or supported in your experience with misokinesia?
No
Looking back, what coping strategies have been most helpful over time?
Blocking
How has your experience with misokinesia evolved or changed over time? Has it gotten better, worse, or different in other ways as you’ve aged?
I think worse.
Looking at the whole picture, has anything surprising come from your experience with misokinesia — positive or otherwise?
Nothing positive
What kinds of support, accommodations, or understanding do you wish existed?
More research
How do you feel about where misokinesia research and awareness are heading? What do you wish researchers, doctors, or advocates would prioritize?
Not sure, just more comprehensive research
How do you see your future with misokinesia?
Living with it
What would you most like people to understand about living with misokinesia, and are there any misconceptions you’d like to address?
That we are not trying to be controlling. It’s just the way our Brian is wired
Do you have a message for others living with misokinesia?
It’s not your fault, we can choose our circumstances when we are born. I do believe it’s Hereditary
What message would you like to share with loved ones of people with misokinesia — partners, family members, close friends?
Understand