Feeling Good with ASMR

asmr mind

The Sensations of ASMR

Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is becoming more popular thanks to YouTube and the joys of eargasms or sounds that can cause an elevated state of calm. At first, I thought it was another craze because people can latch onto anything to make themselves feel better, but I actually listen to a few videos and fell asleep within minutes.

I could’ve been just tired, but it’s serious enough that they are YouTube videos receiving millions of responses that are generally positive and helpful for relieving anxiety and stress. It also may explain why I enjoy NPR or talk radio because it can also be very relaxing, so even if ASMR is not used for sleep, soothing sounds overall make things a lot better!

What is ASMR?

I wasn’t sure how to describe ASMR, but this one lady, who does medical ASMRs wrote about it in an interesting way, which is probably the best way to understand the phenomena:

For most, it’s a sensation best described as “tingles”, usually in the head, neck, and shoulders. It is often a pleasant reaction to a stimulus that is triggered by the sensation of touch, sound, or reaction to light. Possibly other senses as well, although these seem to be the most common.

My earliest memory of ASMR was in elementary school when students would go in for a lice exam. A very gentle, soft-spoken nurse would delicately run a comb through my hair and check my scalp and ears. I also have this reaction to nurses during other exams. Another common memory is hair-playing. Girls in grade school would sit in a row and you’d play with the girl’s hair in front of you, and the one behind you would play with your hair. My experience with ASMR usually stems from an event of sensation that makes me feel safe and cared for, although there are a number of triggers.

Some very common triggers: blinking or light triggers, tapping sounds, mouth sounds, close up whispering, soft speaking, accents, hand movement, tracing with fingers, personal attention, latex glove sounds, skin rubbing sounds, massage, the sound of rain, and thunder, Some are unintentional triggers such as watching someone receive a massage, a doctor’s exam, a calm, gentle nurse or as abstract as crinkling paper…

–Yvette ASMR

ASMR is NOT Scientific but very REAL

There is a list of human phenomenons that are not scientific but occurs with everyone such as dreams, hopes, fears…etc., therefore, ASMR may fall into a similar category that doesn’t require experiments yet helps with stress management or other symptoms:

In recent years, there has been growing interest in a previously unknown sensory phenomenon, named ASMR by those capable of experiencing it. Those who describe ASMR claim it to be an anomalous sensory experience that has thus far escaped the eye of scientific research.

There is a suggestion that ASMR may be of use for providing temporary relief to individuals with depression, stress, and chronic pain. As ASMR has received some media attention in recent months, many have taken to public forums to explain their ability to induce ASMR to ease symptoms of these conditions in cases where other routes of treatment may have been lacking or ineffective (Taylor, 2013; TheWaterwhispers, 2013), while others use ASMR exclusively as a relaxation tool (Marsden, 2012).

To date, there has been no rigorous scientific exploration of ASMR, nor of the conditions which trigger or end the ASMR state.

–Pub Med

asmr sensation

…About Jennifer Allen, who coined the term ASMR

Early proponents of ASMR concluded that the phenomenon was generally unrelated to sexual arousal, and Jennifer Allen proposed that the phenomenon be named “autonomous sensory meridian response”. Allen chose the words intending or assuming them to have the following specific meanings:

  • Autonomous – spontaneous, self-governing, with or without control
  • Sensory – pertaining to the senses or sensation
  • Meridian – signifying a peak, climax, or point of highest development
  • Response – referring to an experience triggered by something external or internal

Allen selected these terms because they were more objective, comfortable, and clinical than alternative terms for the sensation

–An Interview with Jennifer Allen

Dr. Giulia Poerio, from the department of psychology at the University of Sheffield, admits more research is needed to test how this works – and why not everyone is susceptible to its effects. ‘I would love to be able to explain why some people get it and others don’t,’ she says. ‘The reality is we don’t know. I suspect it’s something to do with the way the brain relates senses to emotions…Perhaps unsurprisingly given the content, data analysis from YouTube reveals it’s mainly young men, aged between 20 and 40, who are the chief audience for ASMR videos. Women make up around 40 percent.

–Daily Mail

Minor Criticisms

  • There can be some ASMRs that could fall into a fetish/inappropriate category and obviously, not all sounds are pleasing.
  • Another criticism of ASMR is the same as with other alternative options, which is ASMR shouldn’t be taken as seriously due to a lack of scientific research. But if ASMR helps a person, at least be supportive and positive. Anxiety and stress can wreak havoc on people’s lives.

Additional ASMR Resources

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