ASMR- the mild whispers trigger your senses

The small tortoise eats chunks of food with the mic above its head. The crunch and the chewing sounds soothe the mind. Have you seen it?

ASMR attracts the young and old. The soft brush tweaks calm the ears and lightens the mind.

ASMR engages the brain with visual and audio triggers. Some individuals listen to these mild sounds and feel a soft tingle on the back of the head or down their spine.

The audio-visual triggers relieve the stress, depression, and mental pressure to induce sleep.

Viral ASMR trends include tapping, brushing, scratching nails on a rough surface, soft furry sounds, and water spills, giving a calm feeling. Hence, it is a trending option on the internet.

A study on people listening to ASMR sounds showed mental and emotional happiness. Others experienced strong emotional responses, enhancing their mental and emotional condition.

As per Dr. Albers, a neurologist, 20% of people watch ASMR videos. When these people went through a test, they showed stability in their behavior and were frank during conversations.

Knowing about ASMR

ASMR is a soft sensation that begins within your scalp and moves down your spine to relax your body and brain.

ASMR is like a combination of senses that is induced by a feather rolling on your face or your ears. Similarly, a response is induced in your body, by listening to these sounds.

They calm your mind and body by comforting you. It often complements mental health recovery.

In 2007, people described the sensation of soft brushes and feathers which YouTuber Jennifer Allen labeled them as ASMR.

What does ASMR do

When you listen to an ASMR video, the effects on:

FUN FACT: Memories of music do not fade away when a person has dementia or Alzheimer's, as the part of your brain holding these music catalogs is stronger than the other parts.

Can ASMR have negative effects?

For some people, these sounds create negative effects or no effect at all. Others complain about irritation and stress while listening to an ASMR video.

Some find it emotional and embarrassing, while others hate the sounds created. Therefore, an ASMR audio-visual can have different impressions on different people.

Why do we crave an ASMR video?

Many people crave or are obsessed with ASMR videos. The reason is the unique experience of freeing up their brain from troubles. These videos create a close bond between the host and the listener. They can effectively reduce:

• Insomnia

• Migraines

• Anxiety

• Heart beats

• Depressive feelings

• Mild pains

When you listen to ASMR, your brain networks of vision, hearing, concentration, and touch activate, creating a blend of sensations similar to synesthesia ( tasting eatables while linking words).

A Case Study

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) researchers studied the effects of ASMR sounds and supported it for mental health challenges. It is a psychological treatment method for:

• Excessive drug use

• Chronic alcohol consumption

• Eating disorders

• Marital problems

• Depression

• Mental illness

Top ASMR triggers

The ASMR content creators use sounds and videos to grab the attention of viewers.

The tactile or physical sensations include:

• Hair play

• Soft brushing

• Nail scratches

• Nail tapping

• Plastic packet squeezing

• Hard brushing

Auditory or relaxing sounds include:

• Sand brushing

• Beads dropping

• Keyboard tapping

• Writing

• Whispering

• Water pouring

• Rolling a soft brush in the ears

These sounds and visuals relieve your mental pressure and soothe your brain. Thus, you feel calm while listening to them and feel sleepy.

These ASMR sounds stimulate the feeling of connection, care, and nurturing with soft voices, gentle touches, and attention. As a result, many people viewing them show reduced pulse, pupil dilation, and a heightened skin response.

Quality of sounds in ASMR

ASMR videos use high-quality sound with a three-dimensional effect. The content creators advise using microphones to cut the background noise.

Microphones help us to listen to minute shifts in sounds. Noise-cancelling microphones below 10 decibels are ideal for listening to such videos.

The sound quality of ASMR videos is stereophonic.

Doctors’ views on ASMR

Doctors find ASMR beneficial for 15 to 20 minutes. Prolonged watching of these videos may have negative effects on the brain and body. These include:

• ASMR sounds seem to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression

• Moderate use of ASMR to prevent excessive dependence

• ASMR does not replace therapies or treatment procedures

• Safe listening practices should be followed

However, ASMR videos range from 40 minutes to 4 hours. Some like to enjoy the short videos, and others prefer the long ones.

What happens when you overwatch ASMR videos?

If an individual watches multiple ASMR videos, their body might not feel relaxed. On the contrary, the person feels immune to ASMR visuals and sounds.

These people experience:

• Emotional dependence on the sounds and visuals

• Immunity to these sounds increases

• Worsened behavior

• Increased anxiety and depression

• Hatred of these sounds or Misophonia

Some eating ASMR videos create a desire to eat like them, encouraging eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia in viewers.

Does ASMR relax you?

ASMR fascinates you with sounds and visuals that bring calmness to your brain and body. The mumbling and crushing sounds lighten your heart and mind, making you sleep. Short ASMR videos are beneficial for your emotional, mental, and physical health. Have you found your relaxing ASMR yet? Which one is your favorite?