Blog 13: The Revelations of ASMR

Welcome back everyone! Last week, I talked about what is High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), how HIIT is an intense form of exercise that can increase an individual’s caloric burning at a higher rate compared to other exercises, the overall beneficial health aspects of this type of exercise, and how HIIT can be for all fitness levels. I hope you guys enjoyed learning about HIIT exercising. Today, we are going to focus more on the mental aspect of the body and talk about a method you can use to relieve the body of stress and to slow the heart rate in order to be in a calming state. Today I am going to talk about Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response or also known as ASMR. You might be wondering what ASMR is, well let me tell you. According to the National Sleep Foundation, ASMR is a relatively new concept that describes a “. . . feeling of euphoric tingling and relaxation that can come over someone when he or she watches certain videos or hears certain sounds” (National Sleep Foundation, 2020). In my experience, seeing certain movements or hearing certain sounds almost simulate that I am experiencing these actions too. In a way, it allows me to relax, to slow my breathing and heart rate, and to not think about stressful thoughts. In doing so, it helps me fall asleep when my thoughts are weighing me down. Of course, ASMR is not for everyone, but it can be a way for you to meditate and to be in a calm state of mind, so that “. . . the simple sounds lull you into a relaxed state” (National Sleep Foundation, 2020).

With ASMR, there are various actions or sounds that can be demonstrated to experience a relaxed state, such as, “. . . whispering, personal attention, crisp sounds (e.g., metallic foil, tapping fingernails), and slow or repetitive movements” (Cash, Heisick, & Papesh, 2018, p. 2). ASMR can be a new or outlandish concept, however, it has received positive views that include “. . . expressions of love or appreciation for the artist, appreciation of the calming or relaxing effect of the video, feeling comforted or cared-for, appreciation of the video’s ability to induce sleepiness, and expressions of nostalgic appreciation, such as reminding a viewer of how their mother would speak to them as a child” (Kovacevich & Huron, 2017, p. 56). In addition, according to Chiesa & Serretti, the health benefits ASMR consists of include insomnia relief, stress reduction, and relaxation (Chiesa & Serreti, 2009, as cited in Cash, Heisick, & Papesh, 2018, p. 12). I hope that you find mental relief when listening to and watching ASMR videos of your preference. I have also left a video below of a famous Youtuber with a large following who contributes to the field of ASMR, known as Gentle Whispering. Enjoy, stay tuned, and stay healthy!!

Executioner-4 (2019).

Youtube video of Slow hand movements and blissful whispers ASMR (Viktorovna, 2019)

#ASMR #Feelthesensation #Anewrelevation

Please reach out or comment below on any personal experiences that you feel comfortable sharing!

References:

Cash, D., Heisick, L., & Papesh, M. (2018). Expectancy effects in the Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. PeerJ, 6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6109369/

Executioner-4. (2019). Autonomous sensory meridian response, asmr neon logo premium vector [Photograph]. freepik. Retrieved July 19, 2020, from https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/asmr

Kovacevich, A., & Huron, D. (2018). Two studies of Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR): The relationship between ASMR and music-induced frission. Empirical Musicology Review, 13(1-2), 39-63. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330459645_Two_Studies_of_Autonomous_Sensory_Meridian_Response_ASMR_The_Relationship_between_ASMR_and_Music-Induced_Frisson

National Sleep Foundation. (2020). What is ASMR. Sleep.org. https://www.sleep.org/articles/what-is-asmr/

Viktorovna, M. [Gentle Whispering ASMR]. (2019, April 29). Slow hand movements and blissful whispers ASMR [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBHCvp57rf4