ASMR, or Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, is a very interesting relaxation phenomenon that existed long before it was named by Jennifer Allen, a cybersecurity professional who had experienced certain bodily sensations throughout her life and found people online talking about similar sensations. So she got involved in the discussion, started a Facebook page and eventually came up with a name for the phenomenon, which is sometimes called "the tingles".
But be careful here, it's not sex, sexuality, or sexual arousal, yet it gets mixed up with that at times and was quickly headed towards terms like "brain orgasm", or "head orgasm" before Allen specifically selected the word "meridian" in the naming of it to clarify that there is a peak or "climax" of tingling sensation that should not be described as "orgasmic" because the word tends to insinuate a sexual climatic reference. It is an automatic sensory feeling in the body, a tingling sensation, that frequently begins at the back or top of the head and spreads down across the shoulders and for some, throughout the body.
Okay, that clarified. Let's look at how ASMR helps many to relax, fall asleep, wind down from the day, or otherwise reduce stress and anxiety.
ASMR is a pleasant, often tingly or relaxing sensation that some people experience in response to particular sounds, visuals or interpersonal situations. Frequently it involves "no talking", but for some it can include enjoying "soft whispering" sounds, or "mouthed sounds" or the sound of someone talking very lightly to themselves to the point that what is being said can't be made out.
It can include a myriad of things including the sound of someone drawing or painting, the sound of someone working alone without talking regardless of the task, such as shuffling papers on their desk, tapping away at wood working, working on crafts, repairing items at a workbench, etc.
It can include soft touch such as getting one's hair cut, having a facial, or other similar soft touch, but again, it's not a sexual touch and this is emphasized repetitively in the information about ASMR.
Since there are so many different kinds of stimulating ASMR, and because it is very individualized (meaning some people may be stimulated by a sound like scratching, and another might be stimulated by the sound of particular movements or gestures, let me give you some examples:
From the internet you may find a video of a man who demonstrates doing shoe shinning. He does not speak, nor does the person who sits for him wearing the shoes who is never seen. So the videos are of the sound of the entire shoe shine and thus titled ASMR. Another example might be a woman who demonstrates scrap booking. You would hear the sounds of her busily working at cutting and pasting, sorting through her various stickers, maybe lighting a candle, but never any talking. No music in many of these either because it's not music that stimulates ASMR... it's other kinds of sounds and sensations.
The moment someone begins giving instructions, or talking in lecture or teaching or explanation form, it isn't really an ASMR concept anymore. It's the other perceptual sounds and movements that seem to "autonomously" trigger the start of "the tingles", and most people who experience this describe it as very relaxing. Many use some of the now millions of ASMR videos online to help them fall asleep, relax, calm down, or otherwise reduce anxiety.
ASMR is not for everyone and it appears that even if some try, they don't seem to be stimulated by these sounds and perceptions. So for some it is a mysteriously unfamiliar and odd thing. Some may even find the sounds that stimulate ASMR in some individuals, to be more annoying than relaxing. So if you don't find ASMR to be interesting, then it's not a method to include in your stress management toolbox. But if it is something that works for you, the internet now holds so many possibilities to try, that you are in luck for tapping in to a few of these for yourself.
Keep in mind that even individuals who find ASMR helpful will admit that they are not drawn to all forms of ASMR. In other words, it's very individualized to the person and what causes "the tingles" in one person, does not cause it in others.
There has been some research done surrounding ASMR and the evidence does show that a person in the ASMR zone demonstrates lower heart rate and increased skin conductance, meaning there are clear measurable physiological changes happening during this state. Because all attention is drawn to the immediate environment (its sounds and sensations), it is also considered a form of mindfulness practice which has been found to help draw one's mind away from worry thoughts. EEG studies have shown changes in brainwave activity during this state and the results have shown results "consistent with sustained relaxation".
Because there are so many variations of ASMR, rather than list sample videos in this blog entry, I would instead suggest you think about what kind of sensations might interest you and do your own internet searches. For ASMR without talking, just specify in your search "ASMR no talking", or if you are interested in some tasks with soft whispering, enter "Soft whispering ASMR". If you are interested in crafts, you can google "ASMR arts and crafts", or "ASMR scrap booking". Most of these internet inquiries will lead you to other forms of ASMR videos to try out, so you may have to explore a bit.
Keep in mind that the historic lean to try and make ASMR a "sexual thing" can still be exploited by those on the internet that want to pull this interesting phenomenon of ASMR in the wrong direction. So use discernment when doing your internet searches.
"Our bodies communicate to us clearly and specifically, if we are willing to listen to them." ~Shakti Gawain
Thanks to Tim Reckmann for the great photo, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en
