Do you struggle with anxiety? The most common symptoms are feelings of nervousness, restlessness, and sometimes sheer panic. Anxiety increases your heart rate and breathing. You may sweat and tremble uncontrollably. Basically, anxiety is horrible, which is why people who suffer with it go to great lengths to control it. Some of the methods people use include meditation, massage, and even medication. Some people breathe into a paper bag, while others write in a journal to help calm themselves down. One of the most recent trends to help with anxiety is something known as ASMR.

What is ASMR?

ASMR stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response and is characterized by the sensation people get when they hear certain sounds. The sensation is described as a calming, pleasurable feeling, accompanied by a euphoric tingling sensation.

Some of the sounds that can evoke this response include:

●      Whispering

●      Tapping fingernails on hard surfaces

●      White noise

●      Lips smacking

●      Brushing sounds

How to Use ASMR

There are essentially two ways you can experience ASMR yourself. You can try meditating while thinking about a sound that pleases you, or you can watch a video or listen to a recording of the sound you like. Don’t worry about creating a video yourself (unless you want to), there are hundreds of pre-recorded videos on YouTube that give you almost unlimited sound options.

Some of the most popular ASMR channels for anxiety relief include:

●      ASMRDarling 

●      GentleWhispering 

●      Zen Garden 

●      Heather Feather 

●      MassageASMR 

ASMR, Is it for Real?

Not everyone experiences the sensations that ASMR can stimulate, but many people do. It’s a relatively new phenomenon, without much scientific research to back it up. But, a lot of celebrities are on board, if that makes you trust it more. Stars like Jennifer Garner, Jake Gyllenhaal, Dakota Fanning, Ashton Kutcher, and more, have actually recorded videos of themselves performing ASMR. It may seem weird at first, but what can it hurt to give it a try?

Have you tried ASMR for to help relieve your anxiety? What sounds do you like the best? Let us know in the comments below!

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