I have a theory about ASMR (What is ASMR? Click Here). I will preface this by saying I am not a Psychiatrist so my working knowledge of brain chemistry is rudimentary. But, I have done a lot of research on stress for the various stress reduction trainings I have taught over the years. You may know about "Fight or Flight" and how your body prepares to physically fight or run away in reaction to stress. Fewer people know of another response to stress called "Tend and Befriend." This is a reaction that is mostly attributed to women but I believe is also felt by many men. It is fueled by an increase in the hormone Oxytocin. Oxytocin is often called the "love hormone" and increases the behaviors that build relationships. In the case of stress it causes people to "Tend" to their families and their loved ones and "Befriend" by calling the people who support them to discuss the stressful issue. I feel Oxytocin may also be responsible for ASMR. Since ASMR is a very physical, rather than emotional feeling, there must be some chemical change happening in the body. The reason I believe Oxytocin may be involved is that I have also gotten ASMR when thinking about people I love. It has to be a very strong love reaction, like when I was first falling in love with my husband, when my son was first born and I would just look at him most of the day, or even now when my son is sleeping (and not ordering me around, he is 5...). The feeling I would get on the back of my head in these situations is exactly the same as what I get when I am listening to ASMR recordings that trigger me. One important component of ASMR for many people is personal attention. I think it is that sound of someone really appreciating and taking care of you that creates this reaction for me. It is the same way a really good friend or loved one will sit right next to you, hug or complement you and allow you to really feel seen. The fact that my brain can be tricked into this feeling by a recording created by someone I don't even know, still astounds me. I will not look a gift horse in the mouth though, as ASMR has allowed me to reduce my stress dramatically. Thank You, to all the talented ASMRtists who have given me the instant relaxation tool that has changed my life. I so appreciate you, and am glad to have actually befriended some of you! So here is my gift of relaxation to you. I hope you can feel appreciated and cared for while you relax.
I suffered with anxiety all of my life. From a very young age I began researching and trying different relaxation techniques to try and reduce stress. This search is probably what led me to study Social Work and want to share what I had learned with others. I have tried many techniques and have always been very optimistic about their benefits. Unfortunately for most of these tools, once the placebo effect wore off, the actual changes were not enough for me to maintain the practice. Only a few have passed the test of making a significant change and being easy enough for me to maintain them for more than a year. If you read my blog or watch my YouTube channel you know the two techniques that have changed my life and that I teach: ASMR and Guided Meditation. There are a few others though that I do not teach. One is yoga. I have done yoga periodically throughout my life but it has only become a regular practice for me in the past several years. One reason this finally stuck is that I created an easy 10 minute routine that I do the first thing in the morning, often before I even get out of bed. This is a Kundalini yoga routine that keeps my back flexible and allows me to start the day off relaxed. I do not teach this routine because I am not a yoga instructor. I do show a little example of it in this silly video.
The book I used to create this routine is Kundalini Yoga by Shakta Kaur Khalsa. If you want to create your own routine, this is a good book to check out. I often suffer with low back problems and I highly recommend trying this active type of yoga. Again, I am not a yoga instructor so definitely seek some expert advice to help you create your own routine. If you want information from someone who does teach Kundalini Yoga check out Kundalini Yoga School: http://kundaliniyogaschool.org/2016/07/18/how-can-kundalini-yoga-totally-de-stress-you-in-only-33-minutes/ This is one of the relaxation tools I use daily, and in combination with ASMR, Guided Meditation and probiotics (which I will discuss in a later blog), I have reduced my anxiety to nearly non-existent. If you want to delve deeper into the techniques I teach, I hope you will join me for "Zenvigorate - a Relaxation Workshop" starting on September 17, 2016. This is a seven week online workshop with relaxation tools you will be able to use at any time and live support and videos. I hope to take this journey with you, Jessica Cross www.jessicacrossasmr.com
