ASMR: Brush away your stress with sound

You can now brush away your stress, literally.

Returning from a nine-to-five, the first action for many would be to take an aspirin, a shot of their favorite whiskey or, yell at the person nearest them. Work can be strenuous not only on the body but the mind and if left unchecked, it can lead to mental and physical degradation. What if it was told to you that just by watching someone brush their hair, you may be able to relieve that stress? Or, watching someone gently tapping their desk top? Or better yet just talking? So you seem interested, good.This now leads into the discussion of ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response).

According to Wikipedia, ASMR is essentially, “an experience characterized by a static-like or tingling sensation on the skin that typically begins on the scalp and moves down the back of the neck and upper spine.” The effects of ASMR are very powerful even to the point of replacing sleep medications. As recorded by Opinion columnist Hannah Endicott of UWIRE during an interview with computer science junior, Brandon Okezie, the effects of ASMR has been proven and tested. Brandon Okezie states in his interview with Endicott,

“There’s two things I know almost every college student faces at least once: sleeping problems and stress, whether it’s because of endless work, studying or multiple exams in one week. I feel like ASMR could really benefit us in regards to those problems.”

ASMR is a calming and soothing sensation that vertebrates from the head and possibly, down the entire body. As seen with college student Brandon Okezie, that effect has the ability to help aide in sleep deprivation. Many people even refer to it as “brain orgasms” and it has made popular trend on social media sites, such as you-tube.

As reported by Emma Leigh Waldron a Ph.D. candidate in the performance studies graduate group at the University of California, she goes on to state,”The ASMR community has emerged, evolved, and exploded on YouTube within the last few years, making it a media genre borne of the particular cultural and technological milieu of the twenty-first century.”

The fact that ASMR has triggered such a wave in terms of following and social media attraction, indicates the major impact it has on individuals. Social media can be a platform that people go to in order to be heard or understood. You-tube has more than helped to expose the millions of people who share in the same experiences.

ASMR in fact has become such a big go to for millions, that you-tubers are now making careers off of it. CNBC recently did an interview Maria a you-tuber whose made numerous videos involving ASMR and who many consider to be the “queen”, of Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) genre. Maria is noted stating,

“It’s a very pleasant, natural high state that you want more and more of.”

Speaking of high, that is the first thing people usually seek when under stress and unfortunately, it is the negative high. The high of ASMR is clearly natural and has yet to show any downfalls when engaged in. The time one indulges in ASMR has no set limits and has so far been shown to be safe on those who seek its remedies. CNBC goes on to state the need for this natural high is so overwhelming, that it is reported, “The demand for Maria’s videos is so great that she’s one of a handful of people who have quit their day jobs to pursue creating ASMR-inducing videos full-time. ”

Scientist are still looking into and studying this phenomenon, but there is no doubt that it has its therapeutic effects. So with that, if any are looking for a relief of stress of all sorts, whether school, home or work. Consider browsing you-tube for some tapping, brushing, whispering or even showering videos (of course not nude) and you too, may find your new go to stress reliever.