Gransnet forums

AIBU

A.S.M.R. Do you have this. If so, lucky you !

(22 Posts)
Ninarosa Mon 02-Sep-19 19:47:43

Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. Please don't stop reading, this is much more interesting than it sounds.
Quite the bees knees these days, it appears. I've had this affliction, though that's not really a fitting word for it, since I was a teenager. I remember watching my friend flicking through a thick glossy Grattan catalogue, her her shiny red nails scraping the pages, occassionally tapping a particular dress she liked. I seemed to drift off into a pleasant tingly stupor that started at the base of my skull down to my shoulders, to be unceremoniously shouted at by my friend to 'wake up dreamer '
Another trigger was an old Greek lady I used to visit who spoke heavily accented English with a pronounced lisp, every so often gently smacking her lips together; oh bliss.
I've read this state of relaxation one succumbs to on these occasions is very beneficial to one's well being.
Ok, I've 'fessed up ', here's hoping many more of you encounter ASMR in your lives, otherwise one very embarrassed snagglepuss is exiting stage right.

agnurse Mon 02-Sep-19 19:52:14

I have ASMR and watch ASMR videos for relaxation. You are not a weirdo. There are dozens of people who create ASMR videos. They're known as ASMRtists. Some, such as WhispersRed ASMR (who is actually in the UK!) have published books about ASMR. It's been scientifically studied as well.

Pollyj Mon 02-Sep-19 20:29:38

I do too. Didn't know what it was until recently.

BradfordLass72 Mon 02-Sep-19 20:41:31

Although I can drift off into my own world sometimes, even when people are talking to me, which seems very rude indeed and used to puzzle my parents, I don't think I have exactly what you describe here.
I was nicknamed 'Dreamy Daniel' at home smile but no tingly sensation is attached to this phenomenon, just a sense of detachment.

I certainly have synesthesia but thought everyone saw colours in words, letters, numbers and sounds. In fact the film Fantasia seemed to confirm it as in that, music is seen as shapes and colours.

I only discovered it was odd'when I was a late teenager.

Sussexborn Mon 02-Sep-19 20:48:22

I was known as little Dolly Daydream as a child. I use relaxation and sleep tapes and find them very helpful.

rockgran Mon 02-Sep-19 21:14:11

These are exactly the kind of sounds that make me flinch! I think I must have misphonia.

Callistemon Thu 12-Sep-19 13:30:04

Some people's voices can induce that tingly feeling although I think that the flipping through pages and tapping would annoy me.

It's a soporific feeling.

Squiffy Thu 12-Sep-19 13:55:54

I've listened to a couple of these on Youtube, but one with the whispery voice completely freaked me out. I found it so creepy, don't know why!

lovebeigecardigans1955 Thu 12-Sep-19 14:02:38

I've never heard of this but I've always been a daydreamer and why not if it helps to blot out reality? It's safer than drink or drugs.

Greenfinch Thu 12-Sep-19 14:32:26

All this is quite alien to me. I must be missing out somewhere.confused

CanuckaLatte Thu 12-Sep-19 14:39:11

I saw a documentary on this and said to my DH "You have got to see this - this is crazy!!" - we pulled up a video on youtube (some chick making unicorn tea or something) talking all softly and he closed his eyes listening and went almost immediately into a complete blissful trance. shock

I said "Seriously!! It does something to you!?" (Did nothing for me whatsoever) and he said he felt tingling up his spine and back of head and a "comforting" feeling. Amazing stuff, wish I had it - closest I get is at the hairdressers where, i swear, they could keep running their fingers through my hair and cutting away until I was bald and I wouldn't care grin!

BlueBelle Thu 12-Sep-19 17:05:49

Wasn’t that called day dreaming ? Funny how today you have to have a row of capital letters after your name for everything

No I can never lose myself at all always fully aware of what’s going on around at all times I had hypnotism a few times and ‘never went anywhere’ the doctor who was also a trained hypnotist was very disappointed, I can’t meditate or drift off unless I am asleep I m the little head that would pop up with eyes wide open at the slightest sound
Perhaps I m AFAUA

Treebee Thu 12-Sep-19 19:22:19

Yes, typing does it for me, on a clickety keyboard. I watched a blissful video on YouTube just last night. Mouth noises and whispering has the opposite effect though, can’t bear it!

agnurse Thu 12-Sep-19 19:30:23

For those of you interested in triggering ASMR - there are all different kinds of ASMR trigger videos, because ASMRtists recognize that people have different triggers. Some videos specifically state that there's no talking, it's all sounds. (Clicking a keyboard is one sound that some people make! There are ASMRtists who purchase keyboards that either aren't designed to be connected to anything, or simply aren't hooked up, in order to create typing sounds because they know that this triggers some people.) Other ASMR videos focus on role plays, usually in the form of personal attention - pretending that the viewer is undergoing a massage, hair treatment, facial, eyelash extensions, makeup appointment, or eye brow treatment, for example. (The ASMRtist will sometimes pretend to do things to the camera, or they may use a human model or a wig or something for the purpose.)

Specky Thu 12-Sep-19 19:32:47

Now this is the only time I'm admitting this but I go all relaxed and day dreamy when watching people bite their nails!! Now I know it's good for me ...whoo hoo who cares if its weird!

Ninarosa Thu 12-Sep-19 22:28:57

Ooh yes Treebee, typing noises. Could not have worked in an office, would never have got any work done.
I used to enjoy watching the chef Gary Rhodes ( was that his name? ), slapping a wet fish around in batter. Oh come on ladies, there are stranger things ( but not many ).

MissAdventure Thu 12-Sep-19 22:32:41

Is it just noises that can trigger whatever it is?

BradfordLass72 Thu 12-Sep-19 23:09:19

Treebee mouth noises - yuk!

I've been listening to some BBC plays on disc and for some reason the directors seem to want the actors to eat and slurp every few munutes, whilst speaking.

In real life this is bad enough (and I was always told it was ride to speak while eating) but when you're trying to enjoy a play - abominable!! grin

I have always hated it and my poor Mum used to make mouth noises and in her old age, her teeth clacked.
I never said anything but I often had to leave the room.

My son inherited the same dislike and finds it hard if seated near anyone in a restaurant who slurps and slobbers their food. I gave him some rarplugs. grin

agnurse Fri 13-Sep-19 01:35:03

MissAdventure

It's often sounds and/or personal attention, such as touch. This is why some ASMRtists simulate the viewer coming for a personal appointment of some kind. Examples include a facial, massage, hair appointment, makeup appointment, or eyelash or brow treatment. They may pretend to deliver the service to the viewer, or they may use a human model or wig or something.

JackyB Fri 13-Sep-19 07:36:01

I first heard of this a few years ago. It's totally alien to me, too. All this sort of thing put my teeth on edge. DH once thought he was doing me a favour and bought me an indoor water cascade thingy for a birthday present. I had to stifle an exasperated scream as I tore the plug out. I am dying to chuck it out but it was probably quite expensive.

All my children, like me, remove all ticking clocks if they are within earshot when they go to bed.

And don't get me started on the atmospheric "mood music" they play in spas. angry

I know those examples are not quite the same thing, but ASMR sounds like hell to me!

Pantglas1 Fri 13-Sep-19 07:44:26

My DH can’t sleep with a ticking clock in hearing distance whereas I find it a very soothing comforting sound. This is probably because there was a grandfather clock at my grandparents farm and I remember falling asleep to sound every night on my holidays there. Not sure if it’s a syndrome though!

MissAdventure Fri 13-Sep-19 09:51:14

Thank you agnurse.

I was asking because I used to massage someone's feet in a home where I worked, and it would send me off into an almost trance like state.

Everything else would fade into the background, all the noise and comings and goings.

Everyone thought it was awful, and asked how on earth I would want to do it, but it felt like therapy!