Do you experience ASMR?

Did you enjoy it when someone combed or played with your hair when you were young, or maybe you still do? Or was it perhaps a teacher who spoke in a way that made you get a good and relaxing feeling? Or maybe you had some friends who were playing with your toys in a specific way and made it so you could sit to observe them for hours and hours? If this applies to you, then there is a great chance that you experienced ASMR, which is short for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response.

What is ASMR?

Scientific evidence of exactly what happens in the body when someone

is experiencing ASMR is yet to be conclusive. A big reason for this is that there is still a relatively new phenomenon that is under constant research and testing. What scientists so far may agree to, is that it is amazing how many people who are, independently, talking about this phenomenon in detail similar to each other.

What we "know" about asmr is that it creates a tingeling sensation that starts at the top of your head and follow your spine down and can also go through the arms and legs. There is a feeling of goosebumps, but in a very pleasant way leading to a relaxed and sleepy feeling. The feeling is described by many as a "brain orgasm". Many people use this type of videos for insomnia, meditation or during stressful periods to relax.

Some argue that this is something everyone can experience, and that it's all about finding the right trigger, while others believe that this is something you either have or you do not have. Some also say that ASMR can be linked up to spirituality, in the same way as meditation is linked to spirituality.

There are a range of triggers than can get you this feeling, here are some of them:

• Whispering.
• Soft speaking.
• Accents.
• Nail tapping.
• The sound of wooden blocks or glass together.
• Seeing someone perform an action, such as washing their car or drawing/painting.

Personally, I have experienced ASMR ever since I was quite young, but it was not until a few years ago I came across a youtube video by chance, and realize that this is an actual phenomenon many people experience. For me, these videos were a great help when I was in a period where I was not able to relax, no matter what I did. I could not meditate, whether in silence or using a guided meditation because I had a restlessness in my body that always took over.

If this is a phenomenon you recognize, or want to find out more on, I will recommend some of my favorites that make this type of videos on youtube:

• RelaxingASMR
• Gentlewhispering
• TheWaterWhispers
• WhispersRed