Love it, hate it or simply don’t get it, there is no denying the existence of an ever-growing online ASMR community. If you’re no friend to weird niches of the internet, we’re very sorry to be introducing you to the wonders of ASMR. Or perhaps this is right up your street. In which case you’re very welcome. There doesn’t seem to be a middle ground with this one.

So, what on earth is ASMR? Well, we did some pretty in-depth researching (Google – what is ASMR?) and got a brief definition to start you off with.

ASMR = Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. Essentially, it’s a pleasant and relaxing feeling experienced whilst listening to soothing sounds and softly spoken voices. This feeling has often been described as euphoric and can cause physical ‘tingling’ sensations. Pretty vague, right? Hence why the YouTube ASMR community is so expansive - there is no limit on what you can use/do to create these satisfying sounds. Whether that’s whispering, crinkling sounds, tapping sounds, light clicking or brushing, content creators will play around with tons of different materials and microphones to create these relaxing, soothing sounds.

These sounds are often referred to as ‘triggers.’ And the beauty of a huge ASMR online community is you can scope out what triggers work best for you. If listening to softly spoken voices is your thing, there are tons of people whispering ‘trigger words’, positive affirmations and even creating role play scenarios. If this kind of thing really isn’t your vibe – maybe try giving more generic sounds a listen! Whether it’s crinkling, tapping or brushing, we’re sure you’ll find something that takes your fancy and soothes your soul. Here are a few videos we’ve compiled to get you started:

1. A good starting point to work out which (if any) trigger sounds you find endearing. Feel free to skip through the video until you find a sound that suits you, then search for more videos with the same type of sounds. ASMR is all about personalising the experience to your taste: try it here

2. A variety of trigger sounds without talking, 3+ hours of content:  try it here

3. This one literally makes us feel like our brain is (somehow) being massaged: try it here

4. If you’re feeling brave enough to venture out into a role play ASMR, check this one out: try it here

5. And finally, let’s end with the queen herself, Cardi B doing an interview in full ASMR style with W Magazine: try it here

Once you get past the initial cringe and allow yourself to indulge in a sound, you may shock yourself with the positive effects it can have on your state of mind. ASMR listeners often report reduced feelings of anxiety and stress. It can also help with falling asleep quicker and experiencing better quality of sleep. A top tip we would recommend is popping some ASMR on in the background whilst you’re studying or working. Not only will it hopefully bring you some relaxation, it’s way less distracting than music but means you’re also not working in complete silence.

Oh, and don’t forget to use headphones to optimise your listening experience!

Tweet us at @salfordsu or leave us a comment below telling us about your experience with ASMR!