What is ASMR for Teens?

How much do you know about ASMR? Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) videos have seen incredible success across various platforms. Some videos go viral, garnering millions of views and shares in just a few days. You may have even watched some of the videos and experienced ASMR yourself. What do you know about ASMR for teens?

Recent years have seen mental health professionals start to study ASMR as a tool that can help with insomnia, anxiety, and depression. ASMR, in simple terms, is a type of tingling sensation that can occur when we experience repetitive triggers. These triggers could be touch-based or sound-based. The tingling sensation typically begins at the back of your head and makes its way down the spine. Some have described it as almost a sense of euphoria.

There is evidence that ASMR can offer teens the same mental health benefits that adults can enjoy.

Is ASMR good for teens?

As with anything new, it’s natural for parents to wonder if their teens' ASMR videos are good for them. While the science behind ASMR is still being explored and understood, for the most part, these videos are harmless. Most of what teens will see and hear will be someone scratching a bottle cap, piece of paper, or perhaps whispering. The triggers for ASMR can vary greatly, and there are plenty of options available across social media and other channels.

There’s nothing about ASMR that can do physical harm to your teen. The sense of comfort and euphoria that teens often experience with ASMR can positively impact the mental health of a teen who has been struggling. It may help him refocus, unwind, and even drift off to sleep if he struggles with insomnia.

That said, do remind your teen that not all videos are created equally. Some may include questionable content further into the video to bait viewers into clicking on adult content.

Does ASMR change the brain?

ASMR makes us feel those tingling sensations, but you may be wondering if it alters the brain permanently. As we know, research is still ongoing with ASMR. That said, here’s what we do know.

ASMR can be a helpful tool used as a part of a comprehensive mental health treatment plan. As a tool, ASMR can help to induce feelings of calm and relaxation without the need to rely on medication. It should not be the primary treatment option for anyone: teen or adult. It is important to note that not every person will react in the same way to every trigger, and there may be some who are not at all impacted by ASMR triggers.

Studies have shown that participants who experienced and reacted to ASMR triggers have increased activation in several brain areas. These brain regions are those that play a role in empathy and emotion. While experiencing the ASMR triggers, there will be increased activation in those areas. But it will not inspire permanent changes to the brain.

With increased use, and the other treatments for mental wellness, teens may start to notice that their symptoms of depression and anxiety ease up.

Why Does ASMR Make You Tingle?

ASMR is often characterized as feeling tingles that move down your head into your back after you experience those visual or audio triggers. This may sound somewhat vague, but that’s because ASMR is not strictly defined and is still considered by some to be a pseudoscience.

Those who experience ASMR feel a tingle because of how the triggers directly impact the brain areas that are known to be associated with emotional arousal and rewards. Think of it as a jolt of good vibes being applied directly to the feel-good regions of your brain.

If you don’t experience any reaction to ASMR, that’s perfectly normal. Not every person is going to benefit from what it can offer.

Is your teen struggling with his mental health? It could be time to consider a residential treatment center if you’ve pursued several avenues to help him work through his anxiety, depression, and other mental wellness concerns. At Liahona Academy, we take the time to get to know you and your teen to develop a treatment plan that will address each of his needs.