There are so many misconceptions about ASMR that you could write a book with all of the misinformation.

ASMR stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response and it can manifest in many different sensations. It is not sexual but rather causes a feeling of calm or relaxation. People listen to it for a multitude of reasons including:

• a gentle, tingly sensation along your scalp, neck, or back (what ASMRtists lovingly call “tingles”)
• an overall feeling of tranquility and calmness
• to help with falling asleep
• to help focus on writing, working, or studying
• to add relaxation to other hobbies such as gaming or craft projects

If I were to describe what “tingles” felt like, I’d start by saying that it feels like a cringe but instead of an uncomfortable, cringey feeling, it feels peaceful. It is actually a GOOD feeling and everyone experiences tingles from different types of sounds. Some people can even get ASMR from aromas like lavender and mint.

I first discovered that I liked ASMR wayyyy before I knew what it even was. I remember sitting in Language Arts in middle school in front of someone who chomped her gum rather loudly. At first, I was annoyed. After all, I had been raised to always chew with my mouth closed. However, after a few days of enduring the chomping, I started to experience ASMR tingles whenever it occurred. I remember feeling like falling asleep in class.

Some people really do hate chewing sounds. In fact, I am the only member of my family who likes ASMR. Both of my sisters have misophonia when they’re around people who are eating and chewing audibly.

However, I mainly use ASMR to fall asleep. It lets my brain focus on something calming without additional overstimulation. I also use it to distract myself from anxiety. It is important to note that ASMR does not cure mental illness even though it can help people manage their symptoms.

Common ASMR “triggers” include:

• soft whispering
• chewing or crunching sounds
• scratching or tapping on various objects, including the microphones used to record these sounds
• visual hand movements
• therapeutic sounds like rain, fire crackling, or tranquil music
• head massages, hair brushing and back scratching
• nature sounds like birds chirping, wind or a babbling brook
• light triggers from flashlights
• smells like lavender, mint, eucalyptus, or cinnamon

You can watch some of my ASMR videos below: