Let's talk ASMR. You may not have heard of it, you may think it's slightly ‘out there’ or you may be an avid fan and practice daily. Think of ASMR as a beautiful tapestry of sounds, hand movements and visuals that induce a sense of peace, calm and serenity. A holistic approach and tool to help aid sleep, relaxation, and many other things.
Millions of people practice ASMR all over the globe and if you are looking for a soft and slow approach to self-care, this may be for you. I have used ASMR for years and love it – it makes me feel incredibly sleepy, relaxed and instantly destresses me. It gets me out of my brain and grounds me.
The wonderful Justine Jenkins (JJ) delivers a rich mix of different ASMR practices on the Happy Place app, ranging from quick eight-minute sessions through to longer, 25-minute practices for those that are looking for a deeper experience. JJ explains the benefits of this trending new wellness practice below:
How did you discover ASMR? Was it in response to a particular need you had at the time?
I only discovered ASMR a couple of years ago, even though I now realise I have experienced the positive effects of unintentional ASMR my whole adult life. Around two years ago, I was experiencing anxiety, depressionand my stress levels were high. In the past I’ve turned to meditation to alleviate these pressures, but I found that I couldn’t mediate, and strangely I didn’t even want to. However, I knew I needed some type of support. A friend told me about the ASMR section on the V&A website, which consisted of close up reconstruction work of valuable costumes and artefacts. It was fascinating and immediately calming. I was hooked. From there I delved into watching other ASMRtists that resonated with me and found a whole new world out there. I discovered I could instantly calm my mind, and almost neutralise my brain, through the sounds and visuals of ASMR.'
How are we supposed to feel when we experience ASMR?
'Everyone’s experience differs. For some, it’s total relaxation. For others it creates a sense of inner peace and wellbeing. Some people say it’s an almost euphoric experience, and for many it simply takes the edge off and helps them sleep. People use ASMR not only for calming the mind and inducing sleep, it can be used to energise, as a study aid, and many use it to alleviate loneliness. There is a cosy and comforting feeling with ASMR. When you get a hit of ASMR it’s like a tingle that starts in the back of your head or neck and travels down the spine. The sounds and visuals that create this effect are called triggers. Even if you don’t experience the tingles, ASMR can still be a hugely relaxing and positive addition to your life.'
What benefits to our mental health does ASRM help with?
'It has this magical ability to neutralise and calm the mind with an almost immediate effect. It’s a relatively new phenomena, about 10 years old, but scientists still cannot conclude exactly how and why it works. You feel safe when using ASMR which in turn, makes you feel calmer and happier. Therefore, it’s a wonderful antidote to anxiety, stress and depression. Some ASMRtists create a community around them and perform their content directly to the camera as if they were talking to you personally. For anyone who experiences loneliness, this can give a sense of belonging.'
How do you use ASMR ? Do we need to experience it at home or on the commute?
'You can use ASMR whenever and wherever you need to feel calm, relaxed, happier and de-stressed. At home laying down, walking, at work, while doing gentle exercise, or on a busy train. It’s of course not advised to use calming ASMR when driving or operating machinery. I personally watch and listen to ASMR every day – I always listen on headphones as you get the best experience with ear-to-ear sound. It helps me sleep, if I’m having a difficult day, or feel sad. Even experiencing one minute of one of my favourite ASMR videos during stressful moments, can lift me and help turn my day around.'
Why do you think make-up and skincare ASMR are so popular?
'A lot of people will admit to enjoying watching others put make up on or having their make up done. Skincare involves graceful, gentle, hand movements, and make up application will include sounds of lids being removed and replaced, and the clicking of compacts. It’s mesmerising and relaxing to observe and listen to. The microphones used to record ASMR are particularly sensitive, so make up application and rummaging, with all the little clunks and clicks involved, is perfect.'
What are your top tips for helping people to build Happy Habits this month and maintaining them?
'Easy access is key to creating your Happy Habits. The Happy Place app is like having a wellbeing tool with you at all times. Knowing you have relaxation, and de-stressing techniques at your fingertips, means you can tap into this support system at any time of the day. Travelling to and from work during rush hour is one task we all dread. With the app, you can pop on one of the ASMR videos, to get you through the journey in a calm state of mind. If you can’t sleep, there’s the Deep Sleep ASMR or many mediations to choose from. There’s no need to scroll and search for ages to find what you’re looking for, the Happy Place app has you covered.'
Credit: Happy Place App is available to download on iOS from www.happyplaceofficial.co.uk/app/