What Is ASMR and the Goosebumps Effect
A few years ago, Jennifer Alen, a cybersecurity worker, coined the name ASMR. She was looking for the official name of a sensory phenomenon that comes about as a result of audio and visual triggers such as hand movements, tapping, and whispering.
The feeling she was referring to is static-like, and it starts at the crown of the head moving down through the back of our necks and upper spine. The sensation brings about feelings of well-being and relaxation.
When I first heard of ASMR, I was completely puzzled about what it means. I soon found out that it stands for an autonomous sensory meridian response. Since I’m naturally curious, I decided to dig a little deeper about this ‘queer’ feeling that most people don’t talk about for lack of better words to explain it.
What fueled me is the fact that scientists have not done a lot of research about it, and there hasn’t been any breakthrough about ASMR in relation to science.
Before reading a few articles about ASMR, I decided to watch a couple of YouTube videos to see whether I could relate to what the ‘newly found’ sensation. To be honest, I had mixed feelings about ASMR.
All videos involved whispering or a lady speaking in a soft voice while doing some other activity like cutting soap, brushing one’s hair, pouring water, painting or drawing. After watching two or three videos while fast-forwarding, I wasn’t even sure if I was put off by the videos or if they made me relax.
I was still curious, so I decided to do things the old school way and do some reading. I wanted to know why such ‘lame’ videos had millions of views and why I could not relate to what others were relating to.
The first article that I read about ASMR talked about entrepreneurs trying to make the physical world experience the sensation by offering live sessions.
Most of them made questionnaires to try and determine which stimuli was most effective for a potential client. I am an avid music fan, and I like listening to slow music when I try to sleep.
So when I heard that there are people who have figured out a way for people to sleep and relax, I did not hesitate to get a few tips from the said entrepreneurs. I am a sound enthusiast, and I love knowing its physiological effects.
ASMR Psychological Sensations
The psychological effects of ASMR are the reason why so many people seek to experience the sensation. These feelings vary as much as physical feelings, but they are pleasant. The psychological effects of ASMR include:
• Sleepiness
• Euphoria
• Happiness
• Calmness
• Sleepiness
• Relaxation
All the effects mentioned above result from stimuli that are perceived as soothing and gentle.
How to Experience ASMR
People can experience ASMR in two ways. You can either experience it by using meditation and imagination techniques to bring about internal stimuli or by using external stimulus such as hair brushing or by a massage.
Most people have experienced ASMR without knowing it. Most times, they do so unintentionally or by accident when they are exposed to a stimulus when handling their everyday activities.
There are different types of ASMR triggers. Most people will respond to one, and a different kind of ASMR will have no effect at all. ASMR triggers can either be visual or audio; however, to bring about the sensation through chat lines, we are going to discuss auditory triggers.
Auditory ASMR
Auditory ASMR is spoken. The sensation can either come about due to:
Low/high pitch
Whispering
Monotone
Auditory ASMR can also be experienced when you hear someone blow something, by tapping, chewing, scratching, or crinkling.
Although you can evoke ASMR through any of these auditory stimuli, there are some common traits associated with all of them. They are either methodological, repetitive, gentle, performed at steady paces, have a non-threatening volume, or performed at low voices.
People who bring about ASMR effects- either intentionally or unintentionally- tend to have certain traits when interacting with those who experience the sensation. They are often empathetic, kind and caring, calm, trustworthy, and attentive.
How ASMR Works
Ever heard someone said that they experienced something that made them have a shiver down their spine? Everything we experience is psychological. You may have gone to the hospital, and the smell of the environment gave you a nostalgic feeling.
Some people are thrilled by fast speeds, and others love the adrenaline of free falls, for instance, sky-diving. ASMR, on the other hand, does not involve adrenaline. It involves other hormones such as dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin.
These hormones are responsible for pain, pleasure, relaxation, and sedation. For a better understanding of how ASMR works, let’s look at the functions of these hormones.
Dopamine
• Dopamine helps you focus on stimuli, which trigger the release of endorphins.
• This hormone enables you to endure things that are uninteresting or boring.
Endorphins
• Stimulates dopamine release
• Brings about the sense of euphoria and the tingling sensations.
Oxytocin
• Oxytocin is the bonding hormone. It is responsible for the feelings of contentment and trust. At the same time, it decreases fear.
• Stimulates serotonin release.
• Makes endorphin receptors more sensitive.
• Oxytocin is responsible for the sensation of comfort and relaxation.
Serotonin
• Serotonin is the hormone responsible for mood elevation.
• Brings a sense of well-being and satisfaction.
ASMR Advantages
Most people who experience ASMR look for new ways to experience the sensation. Those who have benefited from it will swear by it. They will go on and on about how it has changed their lives for the better.
Different surveys have led to the discovery of some of the advantages of ASMR. It has been proved that it reduces anxiety, stress, depression, and insomnia.
Anyone who suffers from depression, stress, or anxiety will tell you that most times, they have a hard time sleeping. However, triggering ASMR stimuli will help you sleep like a baby regardless of how rough your day has been.
ASMR in Relation to Chat Lines
Now that we know about ASMR’s psychological sensations, the hormones involved, its advantages, and how it works, we are going to see how it relates to chat lines.
As you know, during the past few years, chat lines have become notoriously famous for hookups and dirty or sexy talk. Unlike dating sites, they are less risky, and they give users more freedom to talk about almost anything, as long as both users are consenting adults who do not take offense in what they are talking about.
Viewed as the best social platforms in the 21st century by most people, chat lines have connected millions of singles from all over the world. One of the reasons why most people prefer it is because it connects them to local singles from their area.
When it comes to chat lines, the golden question is, why are they becoming more famous as each day passes by? Well, the answer is simple.
While most chat line users use the social platforms to find love, to find friends, to talk dirty anonymously or to hook up, most people find themselves needing it as they need to use a simple essential commodity like water to quench their thirst.
The reason why they see it as a ‘pleasant drug’ is because of their therapeutic effect. When you use your phone to talk to a stranger in a low and sexy voice, it triggers the release of the hormones we talked about (endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin). These hormones, in turn, make us experience ASMR.
Because the use of chat lines requires turn-taking and effective listening skills so that we can hear and process what the other party is talking about, users tend to be more attentive while interacting via chat lines.
You not only get to talk to a random person but a person that you have carefully filtered; a person that you feel has good vibes.
Someone that you can trust even with your darkest or dirtiest secrets. Talking to such a person preserves your spirit and energy. While interacting, you feel that you are spreading or sharing positive energy.
You feel like the other person is caring and kind enough to listen to what you have to say because they have your undivided attention.
The simple fact that you are aware that the person at the end of the line cares enough to listen to you sends signals to your brain that you are in the hands of a ‘caregiver’ who is trustworthy.
The same way that children or toddlers experience ASMR when they are in the hands of their mothers and end up sleeping soundly is the same way we experience ASMR through chat lines.
The same smooth or low-pitched voice which lulls them to sleep is the same way we might end up sleeping or relaxing when talking to a chat line user who whispers to our ears about the sweet or the pleasantly nasty things they would like to do to us.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that chat line users who suffer from depression, anxiety, or insomnia benefit from using chat line services. In fact, most of them attribute the improvement of the quality of their lives due to the use of chat lines.
If you want to bring about ASMR effects when using a chat line, tell the person at the other end of the line to whisper or speak to you in low tones. Encourage them to chew while talking to you, ask them to be as gentle as possible.
If you find what they are saying as amusing, ask them to be as repetitive as they can. If you do this, you will no doubt experience euphoria, calmness, happiness, relaxation, and you will finally go to sleep in a stress-free manner. Want to experience continuous ASMR on a daily basis? Make use of chat line services, and your life will ever be the same again.
