Hate fidgeting? You could be experiencing misokinesia, says study [Video]

Those who are driven up the wall by the sight of people shaking their legs, twirling their hair or biting their nails could be suffering from a little-known psychological condition, according to a new study from the University of British Columbia.

Misokinesia, sometimes described as the ‘hatred of movements,’ is a condition that can cause people to experience overwhelming distress when they see others fidget. Surprisingly common, researchers have determined around one in three people experience it on some level.

Lead author Sumeet Jaswal, a researcher with the Department of Psychology at UBC, said she hopes the study raises awareness for how distressing life can be for extreme sufferers.

“For some people it really is on the severe side,” said Jaswal, who conducted the research alongside supervisor and psychology professor, Dr. Todd Handy.

“In terms of their emotional responses, there were people that talked about the anxiety that they felt …