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Scroll through social media and you won’t get very far before seeing some ASMR content. It is practically impossible to avoid. ASMR stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, and is used to describe videos in which repetitive sounds are made, either with one's voice or objects. Viewers experience a pleasant, often calming, sensation, explains The NYT, and are often soothed by watching these videos. But what exactly has caused this type of content to explode in popularity?
Types of ASMR videos and sounds
First of all, not all ASMR videos or sounds are created equal. Each sound is made to appeal to a specific sensory trigger. Some of these ASMR sounds include soft whispers or clicks with the tongue into the mike, and lots of tapping of the fingernails onto objects. Interestingly enough, some of these elements, the NYT reports, are being included in other types of videos, even mainstream content. For example, cooking videos may showcase the sound of some of the frying and chopping and other cooking related ASMR sounds. Similarly, fashion influencers may emphasize the sound of rustling the fabric of different clothing items while pulling them on.
What ASMR sounds have in common is that they are calming, and not alarming. People describe them as “satisfying” and they do seem to scratch some sort of itch you may have in your brain.
According to the Calm blog, ASMR isn’t only about sounds but also includes some visual stimuli like eye contact and light patterns, besides for the classic tapping sounds, crunching noises and whispering. In other words, all of these sounds and visual elements can contribute to creating an overall relaxing experience.
Why ASMR is so relaxing
Studies conducted by Poerio, Blakey, Hostler and Veltri revealed that ASMR videos can decrease people’s heart rate and soothe them. Psychology Today explains that millions of people around the world find ASMR helpful and enjoyable.
The world is so fast paced, it is not surprising that people crave relaxing and soothing experiences. Finding something that brings you some stress relief and that helps you wind down at the end of a long day can be magical. So if you haven’t already, go ahead and give ASMR a try! It might just become your favorite way to relax.
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