What is ASMR?

This blog is all about ASMR. So what is it? What does it have to do with relaxation and why are we, ASMRtists and ASMR-lovers, are so obsessed with tingles?

ASMR is a fancy name for a pleasant sensation that (almost) anyone can get when somebody brushes and strokes their hair or when you listen to certain sounds. If you are new to ASMR community (yeah, we have one on YouTube), recall your childhood. Remember those pleasant little tingles going down your head and spine when your mom was braiding your hair? Or her soft voice when she was reading a fairy-tale for you? The triggers can be entirely different. You can be triggered (in other words, get tingles) when somebody looks through a magazine, crinkles the paper, speaks softly, does your hair or even eats potato chips!

Why does it happen?

Nobody is entirely sure. With the hair brushing, it’s quite clear. Massaging the scalp, you increase the blood flow to the surface of the skin. You actually feel the blood flushing. Apart from being pleasant, this sensation is beneficial in case you suffer from stress, fatigue and anxiety. Also, scalp massage activates hair growth! But with the sounds and even with the visual triggers (slow hand movements, for example), the scientists are at a loss. Such a mystery!

So why do we love tingles? What’s so special about them?

They are relaxing. A ten-minute ASMR video works as a perfect meditation session. This is great for those who are stressed after work or studies, for those who keep too many problems in mind, and for those who want to calm down after a hectic day. Most of the viewers watch ASMR videos before going to bed. Some videos are so great that they lull you to sleep in a few minutes!

No, ASMR has nothing to do with hypnosis. There is no magic or esoterics about it. These videos are done by simple people - just like anybody around you. We don’t have a sinister design. We just want to be helpful and smile getting a new great comment to our videos. We love to receive love. And we love our viewers.

Apart from working as a perfect sleeping pill (without any side effects), ASMR is a good tool for concentration. For example, I watch no talking videos to focus while working. This helps me stay put for a long time and avoid stress while tackling my tasks.

What types of ASMR videos are there?

The most general list is the following:

• whispered;
• soft-spoken;
• no-talking.

Whispered videos are great to watch when you want to calm down. Soft-spoken videos are for those who are misophonic (they hate mouth sounds, ugh!) or for role-plays. No-talking videos are solely focused on sound triggers.

Wait, role plays? Does it have anything to do with sex?

Not in the world. ASMR is a family-friendly concept with no age restrictions. Role plays are short sketches that are pretty similar to cosplay. Some ASMRtists play a role of popular movie stars or video game characters. Some play a role of a hair stylist, a dentist (well, I still can’t get it) or a shop assistant. The idea here is to give personal attention. By addressing the viewer directly, an ASMRtist creates a special atmosphere of love and care. This is a very cozy feeling.

So what triggers are there?

Visual triggers like hand movements and sound triggers. There are loads of them. The most popular are:

• crinkles (paper and plastic);
• tapping (on wood, plastic, books…);
• scratching;
• microphone brushing;
• hair brushing;
• scalp massage;
• mouth sounds;
• ear cleaning (actually, microphone touching).

If you are new to ASMR, try a few videos of different kinds to find your very own trigger. The good news is that scientists believe almost all people can experience ASMR. The question is what triggers you. If you discover the sound that gives you tingles, you’ll open a whole new world.

Don't forget to check out my channel :)