Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR), which induces calming sensations to certain people, also has other potential health benefits.
ASMR is coming into the limelight, especially on YouTube and Instagram, for its soothing sensations that make people want to continue watching these videos. But making art, like paintings and playing with paint – trying to make new colours, is a relatively new thing in the ASMR world.
ASMRtists, as people call them, are mainly YouTubers and Instagrammers who make videos bring calming sensations to the viewers.
According to a resource centre named ASMR University, a variety of soothing sensations, such as tingles, relaxation, calmness, sleepiness, due to a variety of gentle stimuli like whispering, soft talking, light touches, methodical sounds can likely trigger certain people into feeling peaceful and stress-free. A driving reason is that it seems to be very helpful for reducing stress and falling asleep.
There is a huge community that follows ASMR regularly on various social media websites. There’s also a forum on Reddit that has a huge number of following, just to watch calming art videos.
Vishvendra Singh, a frequent watcher of ASMR, says that these art videos help with his anxiety and insomnia. “After watching a bunch of these videos, I feel relaxed and calm. It really helps me to sleep better.”
Another frequent ASMR viewer, Aditi Kamath, said that she loves following Annette Labedzki’s videos on Instagram as the way she paints on camera is soothing beyond compare. “I watch her videos regularly and honestly, I feel stress-free every single time. I have issues with stress and insomnia and Annette’s videos help me through my issues.”
Emily Dougherty, a YouTuber and Instagrammer whose ASMR art videos are very famous, said, “I get a little stressed while making these videos – I’m worried that the sun is going to go behind the clouds or there will be a sudden noise that would disrupt the video, but the process of making them is just so relaxing that it takes all the stress away.”
Annette Labedzki, another artist who also makes art videos on YouTube and Instagram, said that ASMR was unplanned for her. “Sometimes the artist goes into a meditative state while making art, and so does the viewer. For me it’s just paints and colour, the sounds are just a serendipitous bi-product.”
“A common way to experience ASMR is to watch the videos or to listen to podcasts. These recordings are either a direct recording of real-life situations which trigger ASMR, or are simulations of the voices, sounds, behaviours, and moments in real life which tend to trigger ASMR.
The popularity of ASMR videos may be due to their potential health benefits. Aside from being a pleasant sensation, many people who watch ASMR videos say it helps reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and insomnia,” according to the ASMR University’s website.
