Based on your ASMR experiences…
Explain if you can stimulate or experience ASMR on command or spontaneously, include details like:
- Can you stimulate ASMR on command? If so, how do you trigger it?
- Does it ever happen spontaneously/randomly?
- Do you consider this meditation or something else?
- Do your immediate surroundings make a difference?
- How is the sensation similar or different from ASMR triggered by a video or by a real world stimulus?
Note: Sometimes self-induced ASMR is confused with self-induced frisson. If you feel chills, see your arm hairs rise up (piloerection), or experience goosebumps then you may be experiencing self-induced frisson (AKA voluntary piloerection) rather than self-induced ASMR.
- Read about frisson here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frisson
- Read about voluntary piloerection here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6071615/
If you think you are experiencing self-induced ASMR (rather than self-induced frisson), then please do share your answers and experiences in the Comments section below.
(To return to the full list of questions on the main ‘Voices of ASMR’ page, use your back browser button or click HERE)
ASMR University 
I can definitely trigger the response on demand. That’s usually how I experience it, as spontaneous moments don’t happen often. It’s when I’m trying to meditate and I focus my attention on receiving energy through the top of my head. If it gets too intense, it travels down the back of my neck and tickles quite a bit. I can usually feel it all over. I can also stop it on demand, though there have been moments where the tingling is so intense, it takes awhile to will away.
LikeLike
I also can do it at will. I don’t require any environmental stimulation. I’ve been doing it since early childhood and sometimes do it while listening to music or meditating. It can reduce the discomfort of headaches.
I don’t know how I do it. It starts in the back and sides of my head and travels down to my extremities.
LikeLike
Yes, All I need to do is recall a past event. The sensation is weaker however it seems (though not exactly sure about that).
LikeLike
Yes, I just have to recall a past event that would (or could) naturally and spontaneously trigger the sensation.
LikeLike
Sometimes I can but I have to focus.
LikeLike
It takes very little effort. I can do it anywhere at any time. It’s like feeling an emotion, you just allow it to happen. Its hard to maintain it continually. It comes in waves. But you can keep the waves rolling. Any more technical explanation is very difficult. It starts in the back of the skull and travels down neck, spine, shoulders, etc. Normally not going further than torso but on occasion it makes it to my thighs. The result is calming and brings focus of awareness. Not necessarily determining positive or negative state of mind but just increased awareness and centered attention. I hope that helps.
LikeLike
I sent an email to this website last night and have been in correspondence with Dr. Richard as a result. They suggested I comment here regarding my experience.
I have been able to “self-induce” ASMR at-will since I was a child. I didn’t even know that’s what it was and hadn’t thought much about it over the years (I just turned 32) until discovering ASMR videos on YouTube recently. I’m able to cause the “rush” or “tingles” sensation, which runs up my middle and lower back, shoulders and back of my upper arms, simple by focusing on the thought of doing so. It comes in waves and the hair on my arms and back of my neck stands up. It’s pretty fascinating in particular to witness the hair on my arms stand up at will… but that’s the limit of my X-men super powers.
As far as spontaneously, I’m sure it happens a few times here and there. As far as watching videos or hearing sounds that trigger it… here’s the interesting part… that NEVER happens. I understand the appeal of those “satisfying” videos, but they do not trigger the response for me. Perhaps I’m the oddity here?
LikeLike