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Misophonia

A core term in the ASMR vocabulary — explained for newcomers and curious listeners.

In short Misophonia is a condition in which specific sounds — often chewing, breathing or repetitive tapping — trigger strong feelings of irritation, anger or panic. It is essentially the opposite of the ASMR response.

What it means

Misophonia, literally 'hatred of sound', is a recognised condition in which certain trigger sounds produce a disproportionate emotional reaction. Common triggers overlap surprisingly with ASMR: chewing, lip smacking, breathing, throat clearing, repetitive tapping. Where an ASMR responder feels calm, a person with misophonia feels acute irritation, anxiety or even rage. Some people experience both responses to different sounds. Misophonia is being studied as a disorder of auditory-emotional processing rather than hearing itself. ASMR creators who deal with sensitive triggers usually warn viewers, since the same video can be soothing for one person and intolerable for another.

Common examples

  • Strong negative reaction to the sound of someone eating crisps
  • Tapping pens or pencils triggering acute irritation in a quiet office
  • Light breathing through the nose feeling unbearable while reading
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