It stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response and it feels like your brain is tingling.
Officially, I discovered it on YouTube but when I really think about it, I've always enjoyed listening to certain sounds - and voices - just because they relaxed me.
Cooking sounds, eating sounds, vacuum cleaner sounds... and apparently I'm not the only one:
10,797,004 views and counting
From what I've gathered, the reason I find the sound of vacuuming so relaxing (it literally makes me fall asleep unless I'm the one doing it) is because my mother used to carry me in a sling while she vacuumed and I napped, (when I was baby, obvs).
Can anyone explain why I find the Kardashians eating so relaxing, though?
Especially salad.
crunch, crunch, crunch
I've always thought that I was a little weird (and now I know that I am) but not because certain sounds make my brain tingle.
In fact, there's a whole world of ASMR out there, mostly on YouTube, including that soft-spoken guy with a perm who painted happy little clouds, mountains and trees: Bob Ross.
Island in the Wilderness
The early (1993) combination of whispering, scraping and brushstroke sounds that helped make Bob Ross so soothing - and popular - is what ASMR is all about; and goodness knows we could all use a little soothing right now.
So here are some of my favourite ASMR (or not ASMR, but relaxing nonetheless) triggers/channels, in no particular order.
1. Chiropractic cracking
Maybe it's because I know how good it feels, but I love watching videos with loud chiropractic cracking. Dr. Rahim Gonstead's videos are particularly soothing, and this guy's story is fascinating.
Crack, walk and talk
2. Cooking
I've always found the sound of cooking extremely relaxing and there was a time when I'd have the Food Network playing in the background 24 hours a day, just for the white noise. These days, I'm more about The Hunger Diaries. A mix of cooking and eating, it both relaxes me when I'm anxious and stimulates my appetite when I don't have one.
Homemade Big Mac mukbang
3. Mukbangs
YouTube speak for "eating show," mukbang culture originated in South Korea but quickly took over the world. Trisha Paytas, who is known for many, many, many things, is one of my favourite eaters, and this is one of my favourite eating shows.
"When in Rome, right?"
4. Reiki and massage:
Even if you're not the one getting it, watching a massage can be extremely relaxing. Itsblitzzz is a Los Angeles-based YouTuber who specializes in reiki/massage ASMR, as well as pole dancing.
As you do.
Or wish you did.
Julia pole dancing
Julia massaging a kitten
Julia doing a night massage, with gua sha
I also really enjoy watching these Korean/Chinese facial massages:
My go-to when writing, Calmed by Nature has a bunch of super cozy, ambient videos with sounds like rain, a crackling fire and the ocean that either help me concentrate, or fall asleep.
