I Enjoy ASMR
What is ASMR?
ASMR, which stands for "autonomous sensory meridian response," is a reaction some people have to certain stimuli- often visual, auditory, tactile, or a combination of these- that causes them to experience a pleasant "tingling" sensation in or around the scalp, back of the neck, back or shoulders as well as feelings of deep relaxation or sleepiness. The tingling is similar to the feeling experienced right before or during a sneeze in that it sort of sweeps down the spine, leaving chills in its wake. Common ASMR triggers include crinkling sounds, tapping sounds, chewing noises, personal attention (having one's hair played with, face touched, receiving massages, etc.,) as well as a variety of other triggers that vary from person to person.
From what I have read, no one is sure what causes ASMR or exactly what it is, but as someone who personally experiences it, I find it akin to the feelings associated with hypnosis. I was in therapy for several years because I suffer from anxiety, episodic depression, and dysthymia, and part of what the therapist did to help with those negative feelings was to hypnotize me, using guided imagery to induce feelings of calm and optimism. The hypnosis worked, but the effects were short-lived (lasting only about an hour or so post-session.) Back then I didn't know about ASMR, as it hadn't yet become the trend it is today. However, in retrospect I realize I have always gotten ASMR from activities ranging from having my hair played with by my cousin to hearing certain sounds. I particularly enjoy crinkling and light tapping noises, especially against a silent or quiet backdrop (such as nature sounds.) I have never enjoyed and actually hate the sounds of someone chewing, eating, or slurping, but these are triggers that many people do enjoy.
I am certainly not a scientist, but I suspect that ASMR has something to do with endorphin release in the brain as well as the induction of alpha brainwave states, but as research on ASMR is currently only in its infancy, no one really knows the neurological causes yet. I do look forward to when more is known about the neurobiological underpinnings of ASMR.
I only learned about ASMR as a concept about 18 months ago, but luckily YouTube has a wealth of videos made by scores of ASMRtists ("ASMR-artists") with a variety of triggers and formats, and in a variety of languages. There are men and woman of various ages and ethnicities who have their own YouTube channels specifically dedicated to the making of ASMR videos, and some are quite popular. I myself have subscribed to several ASMR channels, and I listen to a video from one of them each night to fall asleep and keep my mind from racing and getting stuck in anxious thought loops. My insomnia is now greatly improved, and I feel calmer after listening to a video (much like being hypnotized.) There are so many types of videos to choose from but my favorites are the role plays, where the ASMRtist pretends to interact with and often "touches" the viewer by putting makeup on the him or her, giving a facial, cutting and styling hair, or giving a cranial nerve exam, for example. I also enjoy the videos with crinkling sounds, light tapping noises, ear-to-ear whispering (it helps to wear headphones for the full effect,) and soothing hand movements (Reiki role play videos are great for the latter.)
I realize ASMR sounds like a really foreign and strange concept at first blush, but once I looked into it more and listened to some of the ASMR videos on YouTube, I became aware that it is something that I've always experienced on some level, but until then had never been fully conscious of. For this reason I try to mention it to my friends and family who seem stressed or have trouble sleeping, as well as those who are open to trying new things. It can be really soothing and enjoyable, and it may just help induce relaxation and relieve insomnia in many people for whom nothing else has worked, or who don't want to resort to medication (although severe cases will still need medical attention, of course.)
If you're curious about ASMR, there is a Wikipedia article on it, but there is little scientific research about it to date. Or, you could go over to YouTube and type in "ASMR" and witness the smorgasbord of videos that come up in the results. If you have always enjoyed certain sounds or gotten "goosebumps" when someone plays with your hair, these videos likely won't leave you disappointed.
ASMR, which stands for "autonomous sensory meridian response," is a reaction some people have to certain stimuli- often visual, auditory, tactile, or a combination of these- that causes them to experience a pleasant "tingling" sensation in or around the scalp, back of the neck, back or shoulders as well as feelings of deep relaxation or sleepiness. The tingling is similar to the feeling experienced right before or during a sneeze in that it sort of sweeps down the spine, leaving chills in its wake. Common ASMR triggers include crinkling sounds, tapping sounds, chewing noises, personal attention (having one's hair played with, face touched, receiving massages, etc.,) as well as a variety of other triggers that vary from person to person.
From what I have read, no one is sure what causes ASMR or exactly what it is, but as someone who personally experiences it, I find it akin to the feelings associated with hypnosis. I was in therapy for several years because I suffer from anxiety, episodic depression, and dysthymia, and part of what the therapist did to help with those negative feelings was to hypnotize me, using guided imagery to induce feelings of calm and optimism. The hypnosis worked, but the effects were short-lived (lasting only about an hour or so post-session.) Back then I didn't know about ASMR, as it hadn't yet become the trend it is today. However, in retrospect I realize I have always gotten ASMR from activities ranging from having my hair played with by my cousin to hearing certain sounds. I particularly enjoy crinkling and light tapping noises, especially against a silent or quiet backdrop (such as nature sounds.) I have never enjoyed and actually hate the sounds of someone chewing, eating, or slurping, but these are triggers that many people do enjoy.
I am certainly not a scientist, but I suspect that ASMR has something to do with endorphin release in the brain as well as the induction of alpha brainwave states, but as research on ASMR is currently only in its infancy, no one really knows the neurological causes yet. I do look forward to when more is known about the neurobiological underpinnings of ASMR.
I only learned about ASMR as a concept about 18 months ago, but luckily YouTube has a wealth of videos made by scores of ASMRtists ("ASMR-artists") with a variety of triggers and formats, and in a variety of languages. There are men and woman of various ages and ethnicities who have their own YouTube channels specifically dedicated to the making of ASMR videos, and some are quite popular. I myself have subscribed to several ASMR channels, and I listen to a video from one of them each night to fall asleep and keep my mind from racing and getting stuck in anxious thought loops. My insomnia is now greatly improved, and I feel calmer after listening to a video (much like being hypnotized.) There are so many types of videos to choose from but my favorites are the role plays, where the ASMRtist pretends to interact with and often "touches" the viewer by putting makeup on the him or her, giving a facial, cutting and styling hair, or giving a cranial nerve exam, for example. I also enjoy the videos with crinkling sounds, light tapping noises, ear-to-ear whispering (it helps to wear headphones for the full effect,) and soothing hand movements (Reiki role play videos are great for the latter.)
I realize ASMR sounds like a really foreign and strange concept at first blush, but once I looked into it more and listened to some of the ASMR videos on YouTube, I became aware that it is something that I've always experienced on some level, but until then had never been fully conscious of. For this reason I try to mention it to my friends and family who seem stressed or have trouble sleeping, as well as those who are open to trying new things. It can be really soothing and enjoyable, and it may just help induce relaxation and relieve insomnia in many people for whom nothing else has worked, or who don't want to resort to medication (although severe cases will still need medical attention, of course.)
If you're curious about ASMR, there is a Wikipedia article on it, but there is little scientific research about it to date. Or, you could go over to YouTube and type in "ASMR" and witness the smorgasbord of videos that come up in the results. If you have always enjoyed certain sounds or gotten "goosebumps" when someone plays with your hair, these videos likely won't leave you disappointed.
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