After eight-hour school days and work, students need to relax. With seven classes and constant assignments, school can be stressful.
ASMR can provide a soothing sensory experience that allows you to escape from daily pressures. ASMR can be used by students to combat stress and anxiety. This would be especially helpful during times like state testing and finals.
According to webmd.com, ASMR stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. ASMR works by triggering a pleasant, relaxing tingling sensation on the scalp and spine. It activates brain regions linked to emotion and social bonding, leading to the release of feel-good chemicals like oxytocin and endorphins. This will lead to better relaxation and happiness.
“I watch ASMR probably a few days out of the week, mostly when I’m feeling stressed about school,” Granite Hills freshman Johanna Kitts said. “It helps me relax, which helps my mood because I am calmer.”
People use ASMR for relaxation and to improve sleep.
Some common ASMR triggers include auditory, visual, and personal attention. Auditory ASMR would be whispering, tapping, scratching, and other soft repetitive sounds. Visual ASMR involves slow, repetitive movements, such as watching someone paint or apply makeup. Personal attention is stimulated by role-playing, like a gentle haircut or facial. Also, most popularly on TikTok are mukbangs, which are usually no-talking eating videos.
There are many ASMR videos on YouTube. The most watched asmrtists include: Zac Choi, Gibi ASMR, ASMR Darling, and GentlelWhispering ASMR. Zac Choi is widely known for his mukbangs. He cooks delicious-looking foods and eats them for his followers. Gibi ASMR is known for doing lots of personal attention videos and roleplay. She has done medical roleplay to makeup applications and spa treatments. ASMR Darling and GentleWhispering ASMR are doing similar videos, mostly doing relaxation videos and videos to help viewers sleep.
“The things I like about mukbangs are the noises and the visuals of the food,” Said Granite Hills senior Brissia Madrigal. “The mukbangs help me calm down, and it makes me a little hungry and a little jealous because the food looks so good.”
According to an article written by Newsweek, reports have shown that more than 60 percent of Gen Z have been medically diagnosed with anxiety or experience anxiety and nerves. Gen Z is also being called the “Anxious Generation.”
ASMR has become so popular, especially among teens and young adults. This is because ASMR provides physical relaxation and a sense of well-being. The gentle repetitive triggers in ASMR can help block other distracting thoughts, creating a focused sensory experience that serves as an escape from daily worries or distress.
The National Library of Medicine did a study on the effects of ASMR. According to the study, “Of 475 participants, 80 percent reported that ASMR improved their mood, while 14 percent felt unsure, and only a remaining 6 percent of participants reported no alteration of their mood due to ASMR.” This emphasizes that ASMR does show effects of mood improvement. Even though ASMR helps with improving behavior and mood, it is definitely recommended to seek professional help for extreme cases.
ASMR appears to be a trend here for the long run. There are many different types of ASMR out there, so make sure to seek out videos that will help soothe and relax you.
