For Annette Guest, 73 and from Worcester, everyday occurrences like someone jiggling their leg could be enough to prompt a reaction.
She said her symptoms began at the age of 13, and followed her into adult life including at work.
"I nearly left a job because someone kept sniffing…thank god they left before me," she said.
She described the condition as "life-limiting at times".
"When it's your close family that cause the triggers, and [it] creates the feelings of anxiety and fight or flight response," she said.
