ASMR: Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response

I learned about something new tonight, and I had to share it with you. 

ASMR = Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. Peek at this: What is ASMR?

From what I understand thus far, it is a pleasurable, calming, tingly feeling you get in your scalp/head/etc. when you listen to certain quiet soothing sounds (or from close personal touching). Some examples are soft whispering, package crinkling, stirring sand, and gentle tinkling of glass. My first reaction to learning about it was a sense of bafflement, but as I watched a few videos on it, it made perfect sense.

I have a Tazo jar filled with acrylic seashells and water that I like to tip up and down to listen to the delicate chiming sounds it makes. I love quiet wind chimes, the sound of rain, the sound of an object sliding smoothly across a flat surface, my sweetheart speaking softly in my ear, and being gently petted (cats have it made!).

Something odd that I really enjoy is watching videos of people completing adorable candy kits from Japan (or other Asian countries, of course). My favorite ones have no talking and show lots of steps to create very detailed candy creations that usually look like mini versions of real foods. I could watch videos of this all day. (I don't, but I could!) As I searched for more information about ASMR, I saw that some people recommended these very same videos. (Ah! I get it!) ^o^ The following video has slower, exaggerated motions to emphasize the sounds made by the packaging and stirring.

What do you think? Did you enjoy watching it or did it bore you or irritate you? If you liked it, you might find that ASMR videos can help you feel calmer when you are feeling anxious. I am happy to have learned of this soothing phenomenon (and am curious about the tingly feeling that can be achieved) and will continue to research more about ASMR.

Do you have certain sounds or sensations that calm you? Leave a comment to share your suggestions! ^_^

Today's technique: The Robot!

Today's activity is for dealing with anxiety and fear while driving!

There are times when I feel really nervous and scared driving. Sometimes it is icy or wet roads or it might be people driving recklessly (or both). My heart races, my muscles tense up, and sometimes I forget to breathe! I needed to come up with some ways to remind myself to calm down and deal with the commute rationally and safely.

One process that I figured out that works for me is The Robot. When I notice myself feeling afraid and tense, I take a deep breath and imagine that I am a robot. As an android, I have no emotions and it is my job to observe others and arrive at my destination intact.

If someone changes lanes suddenly in front of me, I tilt my head and think, "that was an unexpected action for that human to take. They must be running late. They should have planned ahead more wisely. It would be helpful if they made smarter choices in the future." By using this thought pattern, I detach myself emotionally from the shock of what the other person did. 

If someone is following me closely, I think, "the human behind me needs to go faster. It is in my best interest to remain at the speed I am already going. Police officers frown upon speeding. The human behind me may change lanes and go around me when it is safe to do so." By using the word "human" frequently, it helps me keep emotions at bay -- a reminder that robots do not feel (well, most of them anyway. ^_~). Just remember to "become a human again" once you reach your destination.

I hope this technique works for you!


Bonus tip: When someone is driving carelessly/dangerously, instead of getting upset, I take a deep breath and say, "Be safe" to them. They cannot hear me, but I put intention out there, and hope that they will be more careful. (It's a much more effective 2-word combo than some others! Ha!)

New Blog Series: (Da-dada-dah!) How ZoZo deals with Depression & Anxiety!

Old picture of me having a rough day.

Inspired by dear friends of mine who struggle with emotions and situations similar to mine, I decided to start making blog posts that describe activities and ideas that help me.

Some background info: I have always experienced random moments of depression. Most people are shocked when they hear this. They think I am happy-go-lucky because I am always smiling and trying to cheer people up. I am a firm believer in emotions being contagious, so I always try to share positive, encouraging feelings. (Often, helping others can help me feel better, too.)

 It wasn't until I was having suicidal thoughts after a failed relationship (among other things) and finally sought professional help that I was informed that the thoughts and emotions that I had always felt were NOT common. That's right, toots: Feeling miserable for no reason is not something that so-called "normal" people experience.

I was in treatment for several months and was taking medication that, at the time, was a huge help. (I was taking Celexa/Citalopram.) Over time, I started to want to be able to control the intensity of my emotions without needing to take drugs. 

This is what these blog posts will be about. All the quirky and useful things that I do to help keep my brain from being an emo drama queen. (No offense, emo darlings.)

I'm not going to say that I am "cured" or have total control over my emotions. I don't. (Yet.) I also think it would be smart to say that if you are feeling suicidal, you SHOULD seek professional help. I am not an expert or licensed in anything. I'm simply offering advice. 

Depression and anxiety aren't cured overnight. I might always struggle with them, but at least I have an artillery of things to work with to help me win that day's battle and save the princess. :)

I hope you find some of my suggestions useful! 

Let's start with an inspiring video. You might have seen this before, but it's probably been a while, so watch it again! :)

Things I've had to learn to get closer to serenity:

Not to expect life to be "fair." If everything went the way that is "good" for everyone, life would be mundane. With destruction and loss comes construction and connection.

Not to expect that people to react a certain way. Without the random nature of humans, there would be no comedy.

Not to assume that people will harm me. Not to expect that people won't.

Don't take it personally. Everyone is the star of their own movie, and their opinions are usually a reflection of their selves, not others.

I can't excel at everything. It's ridiculous to expect myself to be a master of every thing I attempt. Skill comes with repetition, and everyone has their own natural talents.

The way to conquer a fear is to face the very thing that is scary. You won't magically move forward in life "once you overcome a debilitating fear." You move forward in life when you conquer that fear.

=Curiosity is the Key!=

Thanks again to the fabulous Ayria for introducing me to SuperBetter, which directed me to a great article that helped me realize that what I am missing to combat my anxiety is.. CURIOSITY!

I am continuously curious about things and ideas, but not strangers who I do not yet know. I fear unknown humans and have not been able to determine why. I feel their business is "none of my business" and I am scared that they will be mean or dangerous. These are faulty assumptions that I make and I need to stop that!

I also need to evict my harsh self-critic and just make things! I can bring a lot of fascinating things to the world, but I am always grinding up the seeds of ideas before they can even take root. Speaking of this, I have been tending to flowers to get myself to go outside. I planted the seeds and have been watering them and caring for them. This may sound simple, but I've never had a green thumb, so I'm pretty proud of myself. X3 Hey, small victories, people. :)

Zedis Lapedis! How is everyone?!

Today I realized that I need to *get excited* again! I have oodles of talent that's just waiting to gush out, but I keep allowing myself to be crippled with fear and self-doubt. Enough of that! *Squashes the spiky black urchiny meanie creature that perpetuates those feelings*

I have so many nifty-keen things to share with you. I'll show you the magical characters I've been evolving since I was a kid, videos that make me smile, clever DIY crafty things, and things that bring me awe. (Awesome!)

So, buckle up, Buttercup, and let's live with a grin!!!



P.S.: BWAH HAA HAA!! Poor Pikachu. XD http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0f4fitZHe1rn4r9jo1_400.jpg