About

Do certain sounds drive you crazy? 

STOP THAT CHEWING! is a groundbreaking, practical guide for anyone whose life is disrupted by everyday sounds. When chewing, tapping, breathing, or clicking sparks instant anger, disgust, or panic, you are not “too sensitive”—you are experiencing misophonia. Drawing on psychology, neuroscience, and decades of clinical insight, this book explains why ordinary noises can feel unbearable and, more importantly, what you can do about it.

Blending compassion with clear strategy, Stop That Chewing! moves beyond theory into real-world solutions for adults, kids, couples, and families. You’ll learn how to understand triggers, calm the nervous system, and rebuild confidence in a noisy world—without blaming yourself or others.

Inside this family guide, you’ll discover:

• Why the second reaction often hurts more than the sound itself
• The role of disgust, competition, and brain wiring in misophonia
• Misophonia’s possible role in eating disorders
• Practical ABCD tools for triggers, thoughts, and emotions
• The powerful 5-Second Plan for real-time relief
• Family-friendly strategies to turn survival into thriving

Relief starts with understanding—and a new way forward.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part I:  What Is Misophonia?

Chapter 1:      The Sound & the Fury
Chapter 2:     The 2nd Reaction: What Hurts More Than the Sound
Chapter 3:     Misophonic Living: Surviving the Soundscape
Chapter 4:     Patterns, Prevalence & Prognosis


Part II:  Decoding Misophonia: Diagnosis & Causes

Chapter 5:     Naming the Beast: Diagnosing 4S Syndrome
Chapter 6:     Why Misophonia? Disgust & Competitive Eating
Chapter 7:     When Sounds Kill Appetite: Misophonia’s Quiet Role in ARFID
Chapter 8:     Getting Ready for Change: Acceptance, Permission & Games 
Chapter 9:     How to Talk About Misophonia


Part III:  Surviving to Thriving: Management & Treatment

Chapter 10:   Your Trigger Toolkit (A’s)
Chapter 11:   Taming Misophonic Thoughts About Yourself (B’s)
Chapter 12:   Don’t Shoot the Chewer: Managing Thoughts About Others (B’s)
Chapter 13:   Managing Emotions: Relaxation & Exposure (C’s)
Chapter 14:   Managing Emotions: Logic, Compassion & Medication (C’s)
Chapter 15:   In the Heat of the Trigger: Your 5-Second Plan (D’s)
Chapter 16:   Misophonia at Home: Practical Help for Kids & Parents


Part IV:  Where To Go From Here

Chapter 17:   Outsmarting the Noise
Chapter 18:   High-Impact Mental Health Tactics
References

 ISBN: 9798995697824

About

Praise

I was tickled when I was offered a copy of this because my family just had a discussion about it the evening before. We
were eating dinner and my older son had his hands over his ears. He said he couldn't stand our chewing. I immediately
knew I had to read this book. It answered a lot of my questions and contained a lot of valuable information. I am now passing it to my son who is excited to read it!

"That's the thing about misophonia. People don't talk about it because it's awkward, or embarrassing, or seems silly."

– Stacy40pages on Goodreads

Dr. Thomas Phelan’s new book, Stop That Chewing! Misophonia: When Ordinary Sounds Trigger Extraordinary Distress, is a timely and essential resource for understanding this unique diagnosis in both children and adults. With clarity, compassion, and honesty, he sheds light on this little-known but deeply impactful condition, offering hope and practical guidance for families and clinicians alike.

– Dr. Lindsay Frey, Licensed Clinical Psychologist & Owner, Finding Hope Wellness Center

I read your new book, Stop That Chewing!, and really enjoyed it! If your intent was to create a Misophonia for Dummies kind of book, I would say you succeeded. You had an excellent balance of fun and fact, and I walked away with a much better understanding and appreciation of what misophonia is, and what it is like for people who have it. Turns out I have some triggers myself that I never recognized were part of that spectrum.

– Bryan Shepard, LCSW

Blog

Many families who have more than one child with misophonia will experience what some people call a “3S” problem. This label refers to a “Sibling Sound Source,” where one sibling provides visual or auditory triggers to another. Because of the nature of sibling rivalry, this 3S complication introduces a whole new set of dynamics into a family that can be very difficult to manage. Let’s take a look at those dynamics before we continue.

Competition, rivalry, and antagonism between siblings are a...

Nine-year-old Megan’s sudden disclosure lands on her father with the force of a surprise he never saw coming. At first, he is puzzled—chewing? His chewing? He replays the last few meals in his mind, wondering what exactly she means. A moment later, confusion mixes with self-consciousness. He becomes aware of every bite he takes, every small sound he might make, as if a spotlight has been turned on his jaw. His first instinct is to minimize the problem—It’s just chewing, sweetheart—but he...

I have misophonia and my boyfriend's chewing crunchy stuff drives me nuts. I'm doing trigger management with ear plugs, white noise and music. But how should I go about doing CBT for my feelings about him? I love him very much, but feel I could lose that positive energy.

What you’re describing is one of the hardest parts of misophonia: the trigger isn’t just a sound, it’s a person you love. CBT can’t make the chewing stop, but it can protect your relationship—and your sense of yourself—by...

View All