ASMR.
When you first read or hear this term, you might think it’s the abbreviation for a corporation, or better yet, an acronym for just about any complex science term.
Well, to cut to the chase, it’s actually neither of those. ASMR stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. It is essentially a sensation that delivers a feeling called “tingles” starting from the head and traveling down the spine. ASMR usually emanates from audio-visual stimuli known as “triggers” that help one feel intense relaxation.
If you’ve never seen ASMR before, it is usually in the form of a YouTube video, where someone is doing actions such as whispering into a microphone or tapping on certain objects in order to, well, induce ASMR. There is a wide range of stimuli, activities, and objects that can be used for ASMR, varying from whispering sessions to mukbangs to playing with slime.
Whether ASMR is effective or not varies from person to person. According to Dr. Craig Richard, the founder of ASMRUniversity.com, the brain chemical oxytocin, which is also referred to as the “love hormone”, is stimulated by ASMR, allowing one to feel relaxation and comfort. Therefore, if someone has more oxytocin in their genes, they may have a tendency to enjoy ASMR more than other people. Other possible factors on why some people like ASMR more than others include personality and environmental factors such as mood, expectations of ASMR, and cultural influences.
The term ASMR was first introduced in 2010 by Jennifer Allen, who started a Facebook group that is dedicated to researching and discussing more about the topic. The first ASMR video that was uploaded on YouTube was created by an ASMRtist named WhisperingLife ASMR, titled “Whisper 1 – hello!”.
Over time, ASMR increasingly grew as a topic that invited interest and curiosity. One of the major breakthroughs of ASMR happened in 2018, when videos of people showcasing and playing with slime went viral on the Internet, leading to the discovery of the world of various other types of ASMR videos.
There have also been debates about whether ASMR is used for sexual purposes. While it is true that some people would make videos that seem sexually motivated, many people claim that it is not sexual by any means; they only use ASMR in order to help them relax and fall asleep.
My Experience with ASMR
I first started watching ASMR videos as a junior in high school, when I accidentally clicked on an ASMR video that involved whispering, microphone brushing, and tapping on household items. At first, I was quite shocked, because my first impression of ASMR was that it was mainly done for humor and nothing else. It never crossed my mind that doing something as simple as whispering would help someone fall asleep.
Nevertheless, curiosity got the best of me. Every night, I ended up watching several ASMR videos, and over time, I was able to understand what ASMR spectators meant by feeling “tingles”. By reading various comments and listening to the thoughts of different ASMRtists, I also learned that ASMR not only helps people feel relaxed and fall asleep, but it can also help people with their mental health, especially with regard to anxiety.
After diving into the topic of ASMR as well as the ASMR community, I realized that many of these ASMRtists create ASMR for a good purpose, whether it’s for relaxation or entertainment. A few of my top ASMR channels include ASMR Bakery, fastASMR, and Coromo Sara. ASMR. Whether you watch ASMR to help you sleep, or you’re just curious about it, it is almost always guaranteed that you will find a video that fits your interests.
As someone who has known and watched ASMR for the past four years, I can concur that it is a great tool to use when you find yourself unable to sleep one night. While ASMR might not be for everyone, it never hurts to try it out and see for yourself.