ASMR, Bob Ross, and That Tingly Feeling in Your Head

The term ASMR was coined in 2010 to give a name to the sensation few people talk about or can even describe. It hasn't been scientifically named yet, or studied for that matter. It is speculated that the sensation is caused by a release of dopamine, but it is hard to research a a neurological "feeling."

The sensation is usually felt as a tingle or warmth, and is usually sensed along the back of the head, behind the neck, between the shoulder blades, or along the spine. Along with the tingle, a person will get very, very relaxed. ASMR can be triggered by massages, make-up application, whispering, tapping fingernails or even eye exams.

Unfortunately, a small percentage of the population never gets that tingly feeling at all. I guess that explains grumpy people.

I have always enjoyed watching the make-up infomercials where women are given makeovers. I get a tingle up the back of my neck, which will then spread down between my shoulder blades.

I also experienced this feeling when my young daughters applied "makeup" to my face or brushed my hair.The "tingles" could relieve the stress better than a good massage.

I didn't know that the relaxing tingling sensation had a name until I had trouble sleeping one night. I thought some relaxing "spa" music would help me relax. I did a search on YouTube for some soothing music and instead found something even better: ASMR.

While many times you can experience ASMR while getting a haircut or listening to a soothing speaker, if you want that relaxing tingle the ASMR experience is at your fingertips - online videos.

If you search YouTube for ASMR, you will find over millions of videos dedicated to the subject.The quality ranges from amateur video with poor lighting and low video clarity to some that seem professionally done.

ASMR is triggered by different things in different people, and YouTube caters to all everyone. Some videos are of crinkling gift wrap, some are fingers tapping on glass. There are many dedicated to massage - virtual and real. Haircuts, hairbrushing, and make-up application are the most popular. Role playing videos run the gamut from doctor's appointments to the process of passport application.

I remember the tingly feeling I got when I first watched the "tea ceremony" scene in Karate Kid II. Yep, you can find that on YouTube, too!

Though Bob Ross has passed on, his videos live on with the ASMR community and YouTube.We all remember the PBS painting star, he of the soothing, encouraging voice and gentle tap, tap, tapping of brush against canvas.

A military veteran, Bob Ross said his landscapes were inspired by the Alaskan mountains he grew to love during his tours of active duty.

The military also had a profound effect on Ross's personality. He didn't like the person he had to be on active duty, and swore to never yell again after reentering the civilian life. It's a promise he kept, much to the delight of his millions of fans who could not only relax and be soothed, but could also learn to oil paint.

The superstar of YouTube and ASMR is a woman who uses the name GenlteWhispering. Using the name Maria in interviews, she is popular in America and her home country, Russia.

She is a pretty woman with a soft voice with a touch of a Russian accent. She is popular for her role playing videos.

Soldiers watch her videos in the combat zones in Afghanistan and Iraq. According to Maine PBS, Maria says the soldiers "...share with me how much they struggle with their nightmares.The ASMR whisper videos, they actually help them fall asleep better..."

GentleWhispering has over 170million video views on YouTube. She also has a website on YouTube in both English and Russian if you wish to learn a little bit more about her.

This is a list of my top 5 GentleWhispering videos: Top Five GentleWhispering videos.

A woman named Violet, whose username is VeniVidiVulpes, is another YouTube favorite. Her ASMR videos have over 5,600,000 views collectively.

Pretty with a very pleasant voice, she specializes in reading stories and doing virtual shaves, makeovers, and haircuts.

She also has fairly long videos, some over an hour, for those nights where it is really difficult to relax and fall asleep.

ASMR and massage go together like peas and carrots. It doesn't matter what body part is being massaged, I enjoy watching them.

This particular video is very nice. It is a Scottish woman demonstrating how to give yourself a hand massage. Is it the massage or the voice which triggers the ASMR tingles?

The video was provided by About Homespa Beauty, a Scottish company. It is not marketed directly at the ASMR experience, but it does have a lot of videos that would qualify.

WhisperMister1 is an up and coming "whisperer." ASMR on YouTube is dominated by female soft talkers, but there are a few men who have become favorites.

I can find almost no information on WhisperMister. He is young, British and utterly charming. He is a little green, but his videos are captivating because he is so darn cute!

I hope you are one of the many people who get those tingles on your scalp and down your spine that help you relax. If you are check out ASMR, massage, or soft talking on YouTube. You may find the videos a little odd at first, but just go along with them. Before you know it, you'll be hooked.

The next time you have trouble sleeping, try watching one or two of the ASMR videos. You may be surprised what a wonderful, natural sleep aid they can be.

Goodnight, all.

Pleasant dreams. :)