Many people enjoy listening to ASMR, otherwise known as Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. However, some absolutely hate listening to ASMR and find it makes them uncomfortable or angry.
Why does ASMR make some people feel angry?
ASMR makes people who have misophonia angry or uncomfortable. Misophonia is the hatred of certain sounds. Those with misophonia typically hate sounds like chewing, sniffling, tapping, whistling, and breathing. ASMR often features those sounds, as well as a variety of others.
ASMR is both loved and hated by many, but you are not alone if you hate listening to it.
More information about why you possibly hate listening to ASMR and why it sometimes triggers misophonia is below.
Can ASMR Trigger Misophonia?
ASMR can trigger misophonia because ASMR is all about sound that is pleasing to many people.
However, those sounds don’t please everyone, and many sounds that are used in ASMR videos and tracks are not pleasing to those with misophonia.
However, some people who have misophonia have found that ASMR is pleasing to them. The repeated sounds are calming and cause them to relax or feel tingles on their body that they find to be calming.
It’s a very personal thing! Whether or not a certain ASMR track or video will trigger your misophonia varies.
Some ASMR tracks will be pleasing to you, and some will be irritating or make you angry. Most of the time, ASMR causes those who have misophonia to become uncomfortable.
If you have never experienced ASMR you can watch this YouTube video to understand what it’s all about.
ASMR videos and soundtracks often feature sounds that are not natural and are caused by human interference.
Because the featured ASMR sounds are made by humans, people with misophonia don’t like it or are angry and irritated when they hear it. Some only cringe when they hear ASMR.
If you are interested in starting your own ASMR channel be sure to check out this article.
What is Misophonia?
Misophonia is when people become angry, uncomfortable, irritated, or disgusted when they hear certain sounds. The sounds that trigger those with misophonia are typically made by human beings.
Most people have a mild form of misophonia, which is why many people hate listening to others chew while they are eating.
Those with misophonia are typically uncomfortable, irritated, or angry when they hear the following sounds:
- Chewing
- Swallowing
- Beathing
- Tapping
- Yawning
- Drinking
- Crunching
- Eating
- Sniffling
- Nail Clipping
- Whispering
- Lip Smacking
If you have misophonia, you may not be able to listen to ASMR without feeling intensely uncomfortable or angry.
If you want to try listening to ASMR but have misophonia, take into account what your triggers are and avoid videos that feature those sounds. However, you may be able to find ASMR videos that cause you to relax.
Why Does ASMR Make Me Anxious?
ASMR makes people feel anxious because the sounds being featured are being emphasized, and it isn’t natural.
ASMR features many sounds that are made by humans and are typically in the background rather than the forefront.
The change in the sound volume can make people uncomfortable and anxious, even if they don’t have misophonia.
ASMR often features the following sounds:
- Tapping
- Breathing
- Scratching
- Page Turns
- Writing
- Crunching
- Eating
- Sticky Fingers
- Chewing
- Swallowing
- Crinkling
- Blowing
- Whispering
- Brush Strokes
- Drinking
If you think you have misophonia, you likely won’t enjoy listening to ASMR, as it will make you anxious.
However, if you find that you don’t enjoy listening to ASMR, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you have misophonia. The two are related, but one is not required for the other.
Why Do I find ASMR So Weird?
Many people think that ASMR is weird, and it kind of is!
ASMR features sounds that are normally in the background and are irritating at times. Most sounds are naturally made by humans or tools, and it is odd for people to tap, breathe, or eat directly into a microphone so the sound is emphasized.
The feelings that ASMR causes in people who listen to it are weird.
- Many people feel tingles across their skin and head, goosebumps, and generally feel odd while listening to ASMR. However, they enjoy those feelings, so they keep listening.
You likely find ASMR to be weird because you don’t like the feeling that listening to ASMR produces.
You find that the tingles are creepy and unsettling like an insect is crawling over your skin. It is also a relatively new concept that hasn’t been studied extensively. ASMR didn’t become widely popular until around 2010.
You also may consider ASMR weird because of how dedicated those who listen to and make ASMR videos are to their craft and listening to their favorite ASMR soundtracks.
The subculture is odd, and people who use ASMR to relax sometimes can’t relax if they aren’t listening to something, as they now associate ASMR with relaxation.
Why Do People Like ASMR?
People enjoy listening to ASMR because they find it relaxing. Many people who suffer from insomnia or have trouble falling asleep listen to ASMR, as it helps them relax enough to fall asleep and stay that way. Many people also enjoy the tingles and goosebumps that they get when they listen to ASMR. (Source)
According to studies done by David Huron and Alexsandra Kovacevich, who both teach at Ohio State University, ASMR helps people do the following:
- Unwind
- Relax
- Fall asleep
- Feel comforted
- Feel cared for
- Experience less anxiety and pain
- Feel better when sick
- Feel better when upset
- Calm stress symptoms
Many people who have anxiety and depression use ASMR to help them manage their symptoms because it helps them relax and focus. ASMR is similar to music, just without any melodies, beats, or lyrics.
ASMR typically does include a form of rhythm. Many people who enjoy listening to ASMR may also enjoy listening to classical music.
While listening to ASMR may make you angry, it will more likely make you uncomfortable.
If you feel angry while listening to ASMR, avoid listening to it, as it likely aggravates your misophonia. If you don’t have misophonia and don’t enjoy listening to ASMR, then you are not alone.
Many people find ASMR to be irritating and uncomfortable to listen to so you are definitely not alone!
However, you may be able to find an ASMR video or track that is appealing to you, even if you have misophonia or have felt angry while listening to ASMR.
