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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsAre you familiar with ASMR?
I have had this for as long as I can remember. It is basically a physical response to certain auditory and sometimes visual stimuli. I remember experiencing this when I was very young. As just one example, I would get a "tingly feeling" or some kind of intense feeling when sitting in my dad's truck and watching/listening to the gas station attendant clean the windshield. Per Wikipedia:
Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is a term used for an experience characterized by a static-like or tingling sensation on the skin that typically begins on the scalp and moves down the back of the neck and upper spine. It has been compared with auditory-tactile synesthesia.[1][2] ASMR signifies the subjective experience of "low-grade euphoria" characterized by "a combination of positive feelings and a distinct static-like tingling sensation on the skin". It is most commonly triggered by specific acoustic, visual and digital media stimuli, and less commonly by intentional attentional control.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomous_sensory_meridian_response
Still Blue in PDX
(1,999 posts)LuckyCharms
(17,463 posts)IcyPeas
(21,912 posts)on "This American Life" a few years ago. This is very interesting if you'd like to listen to it.
There are lots of videos on YouTube now aimed at people with this.
LuckyCharms
(17,463 posts)Orrex
(63,230 posts)LuckyCharms
(17,463 posts)Orrex
(63,230 posts)Not sure when I first noticed it, but I'd guess in my young teens at the latest.
I recall trying to explain it to my mom, but she thought I was describing some weird sex thing, and she became visibly uncomfortable.
I didn't know the term ASMR or that other people experienced this until I stumbled upon an online article two or three years ago, when I learned that tapping/scraping fingernails are a very common trigger.
Although it's a acutely pleasant sensation, for me it's also decidedly non-sexual.
LuckyCharms
(17,463 posts)I'm glad that I finally saw something in print about this phenomenon.
At least now I can tell people that I experience ASMR, instead of saying that I get a "funny feeling".
nadine_mn
(3,702 posts)I have a handful of ASMR-tists I follow. I always got that tingly feeling over certain sounds...never knew it was a thing until one day I was watching a craft video on needle felting...and the description had ASMR listed and I was like what is that?
Oddly enough I also have a bit of misophonia...I cannot stand to hear people breathe, chew, a lot of sounds drive me insane...so I'm either getting tingly all over or cringing and wanting to punch someone.
It's fun
Skittles
(153,212 posts)Bob Ross was the king of unintentional ASMR
here's a better sample of intentional ASMR:
Oneironaut
(5,530 posts)For example, massage videos, loud but relaxing demonstrations, people doing something while deep in concentration, etc. The whole whispering thing is a little off-putting to me. To each their own, I suppose!
Have you seen Ephemeral Rift's videos? They're very odd (in a creative genius sort of way). This is my favorite: