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This is what it looks like when I’m experiencing a very mystical head tingle called ASMR.
ASMR stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response.
Real intense acronym, I know.
It's a sensation that has many names including "brain massage" and "mind orgasm" (the community hates that term). None of them quite capture the feeling, and it's difficult to describe.
You may have also experienced ASMR without knowing it.
Do you feel a calm, mellowing sensation spreading from your scalp to your spine while watching this kitty?
Does this Japanese YouTuber putting together DIY eraser kits put you into a zen-like state of mind?
The tingly head feeling you may be experiencing is called ASMR, and it has played a big part in my life for the past few years.
ASMR was something I was sort of ashamed of initially. How could I reach out to people to talk about it? Was ASMR something that others experienced too?
If someone had walked in on me watching an ASMR video, I wouldn't even know where to begin.
People will mock what they don't understand. And people don't understand a lot of things. Hoping that others would just "get" what I was talking about, isn't the best frame of mind to have. I realized not everyone needed to understand what it was or why I thought it was so cool, it only mattered that I thought it was cool. It was then that the mystical head tingle was something I truly came to embrace.
If you’re able to experience ASMR, I have some recommendations for improving the experience:
Because phones don't cooperate well when you're trying to get comfortable watching videos on your side.
1. Using something like this rotatable mobile device clamp ($15 to $22) is what you need for ASMR video viewing angle freedom!
2. Using headphones while going to bed is another issue, and that's where SleepPhones ($40) come in.
3. There are a lot of ASMR apps, but to be honest, the app people get the most out of is YouTube.
My ASMR discovery started as a collection of weird playlists I would have on YouTube.
5. ASMR Player (iOS) has a great filtering system to find popular triggers.
Not everyone experiences ASMR the same way, and when they do, it's generally not due the same "triggers".
Common triggers include:
* Slow speech patterns, accents, soft-speaking voices and whispers
* Lip sounds/smacking/eating
* Clicking sounds, brushing sounds, white noise, etc.
* Painting/drawing
* Instructional videos
* Watching other people performing simple tasks
* Getting close, personal attention from someone (eye-exam, make-over, etc.)
* Haircuts, people playing with your hair
* Bob Ross
[From the Reddit ASMR wiki] Love you guys <3
At the end of a long day, there is nothing better than knowing I can come home, watch ASMR videos, and instantly start to unwind. It helps me sleep better, and I've even discovered things I didn't even know I had an appreciation for (like bar tending).
7. ASMR still not making a whole lot of sense? This funky-looking device ($7) massages your scalp and is about as close to capturing the feeling as you can get.
Also dogs love it, if that wasn't clear. It's worth getting one just to see their reaction.
