Based on your ASMR experiences…
Explain what ASMR feels like to you, include details like:
- What physical sensations do you feel?
- Where do you feel these sensations on your body?
- What emotional and psychological sensations do you feel?
- How strong are the sensations?
- How long does it last?
Scroll down and share your answers in the Comments section.
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ASMR University 
Random/spontaneous ASMR moments (no identifiable trigger) happen when I’m relaxed, and always start at the crown of my head, on the ‘crown chakra’. It feels as though a warm slightly fuzzy, tingling energy wells up through this point and then flows down over my head, neck and shoulders. I’ve had these sensations randomly all my life (I’m 65 now).
I’ve only recently discovered that there’s a ‘thing’ called ASMR, and I guess these sensations fall into the ASMR category. I’ve just been exploring some of the videos and the one that has the strongest effect is the towel folding, specifically the slightly rasping sound of stroking the towels. This produces a tingling sensation that starts at the back of my head, low down on the skull, in a horseshoe pattern level with my ears – which then spreads outwards from there.
Last night on UK TV there was a Norwegian ‘slow TV’ programme of a Sami sleigh journey: no commentary or music, just the natural sounds as reindeer pulled a laden sleigh over snow. The crunchy snow sounds produced a mild effect – just like the towels description above, but starting higher up on the back of my skull, level with my temples. The sensation was stronger when I closed my eyes and just listened, without the images. There seemed to be two reasons for that: (1) the sight of the expanse of cold snow seemed to dampen down the ‘warmth’ of the ASMR sensation; (2) one of the reindeer was being awkward, didn’t want to be in harness, and I found that interesting, but distracting from the ASMR sensation!
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What physical sensations do you feel?
I get ASMR in varying degrees of “severity”. Sometimes the effect can be as simple as just a relaxed state where I just feel my anxiety sort of “wash” away from me, othertimes it is much more strong and involves goosebumps, a “warm chill” type sensation, or even in some cases a very slight twitching of the lower back muscles. A typical sensation is somewhere in the middle – usually it will reduce my anxiety greatly within 1-2 minutes and it will cause a mild warm chill or “tingle” sensation. In my mind I associate this with relaxation and it feels very linked to personal attention in some way I cannot fully explain. Alternatively, I also have reason to believe it may be associated with either dopamine or serotonin or possibly even endorphins or some sort.
Where do you feel these sensations on your body?
Typically the feeling starts from the tiny area directly above my spine and creeps outwards across my shoulders and down my back. It seems that the “stronger” the tingle / trigger the more intense this feeling is and the further it travels. As mentioned above, in some cases (for trigger types that I enjoy or when I have not experienced ASMR in a few days) the sensation will reach the very bottom of my back, just above where your kidneys are located, and it will cause the muslces there to twitch but in a very relaxing and enjoyable way.
What emotional and psychological sensations do you feel?
Immediately after this feeling I begin to relax, it has even been able to take me out of my worst panic attacks in minutes (usually less than 1-2 minutes). I find that these feelings are quite pleasurable, in a particularly emotional/personal way. Imagine it like you are a baby who is being cradled by your mother, it feels like that. Just perfectly comfortable and relaxed with a marked decrease in heart rate, anxiety, and negative thinking/”worry loops”. Emotionally I equate the feeling to the same types of feelings I get when I am studying/learning from someone in a personal manner or when I am being comforted by a personal friend, however these are just the types of feelings and are not necessarily the same.
How strong are the sensations?
This varys to a high degree. It seems like the more time I listen to ASMR-related trigger words/videos (etc) over the day the less intense the feeling gets. It also seems like taking time away from ASMR can increase the feeling upon next listen. Also, I have noticed that some videos originally trigger me very very hard on first hear (as if it is stronger when the sounds are not expected/remembered) and after repeat views they gradually get less and less strong (even with breaks in between this remains true, which is why I always seek out new youtube channels or new videos)
How long does it last?
Typically it will last as long as I am being triggered, only the intesity changes over time. I have not tested to the extreme, but even over courses of multiple hours at work listening to relaxing ASMR videos I remain capable of experiencing ASMR, it just gradually reduces the longer the listen.
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Asmr without tingles is the sensation of getting a massage or someone singing a lullaby, asmr with tingles for me is a goosebump shivering sensation around my back thats relaxing and pleasurable.
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I feel tingles on the top of my head and down my spine. It feels relaxing and good, I feel at ease. If someone triggers my asmr in person, the sensation is quite strong. If I’m watching an asmr video, I barley get the asmr tingles. In person, the tingles will last as long as the person is whispering, making crinkly noises or whatever triggers my asmr.
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I feel two kinds of sensation. One is a tingling pulse from behind the effected ear, sometimes accompanied by a muscle contraction or shiver. It goes down my neck, and it can reach all the way through my buttocks, depending on the strength of the trigger. This sensation lasts as long as the trigger persists. The sensations increase in power the closer the trigger gets to my ear canal, and can include whispers, blowing into the ear, cutting sounds, tapping, light humming, and electric razors. The other is a feeling of euphoria, similar to a post-orgasmic glow, that settles into my stomach; this is usually triggered by close attention, as with a haircut or eye exam. It can also be triggered by observing some mundane quiet tasks performed by others, like reading or fiddling with tools. This feeling can last for minutes after the triggering activity ends.
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