You’re lying in your bed after a long, exhausting day. The second your head hits the pillow, your eyes are wide open, and thoughts are running rampant. You toss and turn, hoping sleep will eventually come. The next morning, you’re exhausted, struggling to focus, and wondering how you’re going to make it through the day running on fumes. Then, that night, the cycle repeats.
If this sounds familiar, you’re definitely not alone. I’ve had my fair share of sleepless nights and know firsthand just how much a lack of sleep affects mood and ability to concentrate. When your brain won’t slow down, sometimes you just need something to help you reset.
So what’s the solution?
Well, I’ve found my respite in ASMR, and I believe you will as well! I’ve been an ASMR enthusiast for six years now, and what was once something I turned on before bed has turned into genuine comfort and relaxation in my everyday life. Whether I’m trying to fall asleep, decompress after a big day, or lock in during a study session, ASMR is a great way to create a sense of peace. ASMR has genuinely changed my life, and it can change your life one peaceful sleep at a time.
What exactly is ASMR?
ASMR stands for autonomous sensory meridian response. It describes relaxing sensations better known as “tingles” that people get in response to certain sounds, visuals, or interactions. These “tingles” start at the crown of your head and go down your spine. While some ASMR watchers don’t get tingles, they still find it incredibly relaxing. What causes these tingles are what ASMRtists call “triggers”; these are things like whispering, hand movements, tapping, scratching, etc. Many people find these triggers to be relaxing and calming; they are often used as a sleep aid.
There is a lot of ASMR content out there.
There are ASMR videos featuring things such as roleplaying, soft-spoken, visual triggers with lights or hand movements, eating mukbangs, etc. Everyone has their own personal taste when it comes to ASMR. For example, one might feel really relaxed and calm when listening to mouth sounds, while others might immediately want to throw their headphones across the room (which I totally get).
The fun part is finding your specific niche.
Personally, I love ASMR tapping and soft whispered fun facts videos. If I have a long study session ahead of me, I will turn on a video with quiet coffee shop sounds, with light conversations and cups clinking in the background. It gives me something calming to listen to without the distraction that music poses.
What happens when you listen to ASMR?
While the effects of ASMR are still being studied, many studies suggest people who experience ASMR have a physiological response associated with relaxation. Some research has found changes in heart rate and skin conductance while people experience ASMR, which suggests that it has an effect on the body’s stress response.
As more research happens in terms of ASMR, I wonder if it has an effect on one’s parasympathetic nervous system, better known as “rest and digest”. This allows your body to calm down and not have such a physical response to stress, as you’re not in immediate danger.
This makes sense when you think about your body’s reaction to stress. Your shoulders tense up, your jaw clenches, you might fidget or bite your nails, and your body just overall feels like it’s waiting for something to happen.
ASMR can have the opposite experience: slowing down, focusing on one repetitive sound, and just giving your brain time to not think about any stressors.
Of course, ASMR is not a replacement for professional mental health care or treatment for sleep problems such as insomnia. But for me, it has become a simple tool I can use when trying to wind down.
My ASMR Experience
I started listening to ASMR six years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time that was full of uncertainty and fear. There was so much happening in the world that felt completely outside of my control.
ASMR provided me with a safe space to escape all of that.
After an overstimulating day, I could put on a video and focus on the calmness in front of me. I wasn’t worried about news headlines, notifications, or stressors completely outside of my control. It was simply something peaceful to help to regulate my nervous system.
However, in my experience, ASMR isn’t just for relaxing; many ASMRtists such as Gibi ASMR intertwine humor with the experience.
One of my favorite examples of humor and ASMR is Gibi ASMR recreating the entire Bee movie from start to finish while whispering and doing triggers in ASMR. How fun is that? It sounds unhinged, and frankly it is, but that’s part of what I love about ASMR; it doesn’t have to be so serious all the time.
Weirdly, ASMR also reminds me of being a kid.
I remember lying down on the couch before bedtime when I was little, and shows would be playing, such as Curious George. I loved this part of my day because it was so calming and I felt so safe. Nowadays, many shows are very overstimulating, and there’s a lot happening at once. How I felt watching Cartoons as a girl is how I feel when I turn on ASMR. For a few minutes, I can get that childhood feeling back and let my brain slow down and rest.
Finding Your Own Calm
ASMR isn’t going to work for every single person, and that’s okay! You might discover you hate whispering and it makes you want to immediately turn off your phone. Maybe fridge restock videos are your thing, or calming background ambiance. There are so many options you are bound to find something worth trying.
Overall, ASMR has been a serious game-changer for my mental health and getting a good night’s rest. I encourage you to find your niche in the ASMR community, as I’ve experienced nothing but positive vibes.