Skip to main content
Close Close

Congratulations
You're on the list.

Make sure to check your spam folder so that our emails are always delivered into your inbox.
xo, Kourt
Give your inbox
and your life

the Poosh it needs.
By clicking SIGN UP, you agree to receive emails from Poosh and agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Free Shipping on All Domestic Orders.
  • HEALTH + WELLNESS
  • LIFE + STYLE
  • HOME + ENTERTAINING
  • KKB
Poosh
  • instagram pinterest facebook twitter youtube join newsletter
  • Shop
  • search
  • search
  • body
  • diy
  • fitness
  • Giving Back
  • health
  • mind
  • Relationships
  • Sexual Wellness
  • soul
7 Easy Biohacks You Can Start Doing Right Now
7 Easy Biohacks You Can Start Doing Right Now
Do Opposites Really Attract?
Do Opposites Really Attract?
The Self-Care Ritual That Actually Relieves my Pain
The Self-Care Ritual That Actually Relieves my Pain
Is Trauma Trapped in Your Body?
Is Trauma Trapped in Your Body?
How Arousal Mapping Can Awaken Your Desire
How Arousal Mapping Can Awaken Your Desire
A Workout for Your Follicular Phase
A Workout for Your Follicular Phase
  • Adulting
  • beauty
  • guides
  • Hacks
  • style
  • travel
Stylist Dani Michelle Shares Her Transitional Dressing Must-Haves
Stylist Dani Michelle Shares Her Transitional Dressing Must-Haves
Poosh Product Picks: Madeleine Rose
Poosh Product Picks: Madeleine Rose
Poosh Pause: My Bali Reset
Poosh Pause: My Bali Reset
How to Detect Narcissist Red Flags
How to Detect Narcissist Red Flags
I’m Getting Married in 8 Months—This Is My Expert-Approved Skin Treatment Schedule
I’m Getting Married in 8 Months—This Is My Expert-Approved Skin Treatment Schedule
How to Thrive, Not Just Survive
How to Thrive, Not Just Survive
  • decor
  • entertaining
  • kids
  • motherhood
  • Playlists
  • recipes
Khloé Kardashian’s Easy Weeknight Slow Cooker Veggie Burrito Bowls
Khloé Kardashian’s Easy Weeknight Slow Cooker Veggie Burrito Bowls
Hormone Healthy Raw Carrot Salad Recipe
Hormone Healthy Raw Carrot Salad Recipe
Must-Have Items New Moms Swear By
Must-Have Items New Moms Swear By
Vegan Armenian Lahmacun Recipe From Kourt’s Incredible Spread
Vegan Armenian Lahmacun Recipe From Kourt’s Incredible Spread
Kourt’s Favorite Cajun Kale Chips
Kourt’s Favorite Cajun Kale Chips
Under $50: Chic Bathroom Organization Accessories
Under $50: Chic Bathroom Organization Accessories
  • family
  • kourtney
Khloé Kardashian’s Easy Weeknight Slow Cooker Veggie Burrito Bowls
Khloé Kardashian’s Easy Weeknight Slow Cooker Veggie Burrito Bowls
Vegan Armenian Lahmacun Recipe From Kourt’s Incredible Spread
Vegan Armenian Lahmacun Recipe From Kourt’s Incredible Spread
Why Kourt Loves Seed Cycling
Why Kourt Loves Seed Cycling
Kourt’s Favorite Cajun Kale Chips
Kourt’s Favorite Cajun Kale Chips
3 Salads Kourt is Eating on Rotation Right Now
3 Salads Kourt is Eating on Rotation Right Now
Kourtney’s Wet Hair Look: The Breakdown
Kourtney’s Wet Hair Look: The Breakdown
What are you looking for?

Menu

  • Shop
  • HEALTH + WELLNESS
    • body
    • diy
    • fitness
    • Giving Back
    • health
    • mind
    • Relationships
    • Sexual Wellness
    • soul
  • HOME + ENTERTAINING
    • decor
    • entertaining
    • kids
    • motherhood
    • Playlists
    • recipes
  • KKB
    • family
    • kourtney
  • LIFE + STYLE
    • Adulting
    • beauty
    • guides
    • Hacks
    • style
    • travel
  • Newsletter
instagram pinterest facebook twitter youtube join newsletter
Sexual Wellness

What is ASMR SEX?

By Poosh
share on pinterest share on facebook share on twitter Share on Flipboard share by email
 Photo credit @oaknarrow
@oaknarrow

Hello again, dear friend Anonymous. Welcome back to our sex talk column where readers submit questions, then we do our research and craft a story to answer as many questions as we can. We tapped Dr. Kate Balestrieri—licensed psychologist, certified sex and PACT couples therapist, and founder of Modern Intimacy in Los Angeles, California—to provide her (s)expert knowledge on steamy topics (like how to teach yourself to squirt, everything you need to know about edging and rocking, if nipple orgasms are real, ways to increase your libido, sex stage fright, enjoying outercourse, and more). Today she’s taking the mic in our Ask Us Anything: The Sex Edition, to answer the latest submission. The topic? ASMR sex.

How Can I Get Into ASMR Sex?

“For the past 14 years, videos created to evoke the autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) have exploded all over the internet. Sometimes called tingleheads, people who love ASMR find themselves eagerly searching for the triggers that send a tingly, euphoric sensation across their head, face, scalp, neck, or other extremities. ASMR can elicit a calming response for many, helping to reduce anxiety, fostering a state of calm, and even helping people fall asleep a little easier. Common triggers (stimuli) used in ASMR videos can include whispering, lightly touching different objects for a gentle crackle or tapping sound, mouth noises, moving a makeup brush across a microphone, putting on makeup, or simulating an eye exam. Triggers can be meaningful or nonsensical, but are usually very quiet and inviting. 

Not everyone can experience ASMR though, and the videos tend to garner a polarizing response. Some people love it and swear by its effect, and others find it annoying or not very interesting. Research is still catching up, and the science behind ASMR is still not well understood. Some studies note that people who experience ASMR may be experiencing a boost of oxytocin, the neurochemical responsible for feeling bonded or connected to another person. Oxytocin is released during bonding activities, like cuddling, sex, and skin-to-skin contact, and is found to activate the same parts of the brain that light up during ASMR videos.

Other studies hypothesize that ASMR may be akin to synesthesia, which occurs in roughly 1%-4% of people, and means they experience one sensory experience through another. This sensory blending is automatic and can be experienced as hearing colors or hearing a specific word and smelling or tasting food that is not there. Relating to ASMR triggers, hearing a sound may lead to a tactile experience. 

Typically, ASMR is not considered a sexual practice, though ASMR erotica is a growing niche. It is no surprise that some people may feel arousal or even affection for ASMR content creators, or while consuming content, given the intimacy of the experience. Think about it this way. To hear a whisper, or the other quiet sounds generated in ASMR content, a person needs a powerful microphone, or they need to be near the sounds. ASMR content gives the brain an illusion of closeness, or an intimate connection. 

On top of the relaxation associated with the tingly sensations of ASMR, which can feel amazing (some have described it as a brain orgasm), a relaxed body is more amenable to sensory awareness and sexual arousal. ASMR and sex can be welcome bedfellows. But how do you make that leap? Here are a few things to consider:

1. Identify Erotic Triggers
Everyone’s erotic template is different, and discerning which AMSR triggers to include in erotic play is a personal exploration. Consider what auditory sounds are relaxing to you, but not erotic, if you want less intentionally sexual content. Or you might purposefully seek out sounds that are erotic in their sound or meaning, like sexual words, heavy breathing, or light moans. ASMR content is often audio and visual, so you may want to consider if both are important for your arousal, or if just the audio is what gets you turned on and the visual is distracting. It’s OK if you don’t know exactly what ASMR triggers work for you erotically right away. Take some time to explore different stimuli and themes and make note of how your body and mind respond. 

2. Communicate with Your Partner
If you’re thinking of inviting ASMR into partnered sex, the potential is exhilarating! It can also add a layer of complexity because the triggers for ASMR are so unique that you may have a tough time finding stimuli that have the desired effect for you both. Initiating a healthy dialogue about how your bodies respond to different triggers can give you the tools you need to find alignment with content that works for you both, and to take turns, creating space for each partner to have extra tingles at different times. 

3. Relax and Enjoy
Once you’ve set out on a plan of exploration or know what triggers are high on your erotic list, all that is left is to open yourself up to the sensory experience. Grab your favorite lube, vibrator, stroker, or other sexual accessory and let the tingles take over. Stay present with the sensations in your body and take things slow. If you’re partnered, communicate with a partner about what works and what doesn’t, maximizing your pleasure potential.”

Dr. Kate Balestrieri is a licensed psychologist, certified sex therapist, certified sex addiction therapist, PACT therapist, and founder of Modern Intimacy, a group practice in Los Angeles, Miami, and Chicago. Listen to her podcast, Modern Intimacy, and follow her on IG @drkatebalestrieri.

The content provided in this article is provided for information purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice and consultation, including professional medical advice and consultation; it is provided with the understanding that Poosh, LLC (“Poosh”) is not engaged in the provision or rendering of medical advice or services. The opinions and content included in the article are the views of the interviewee only, and Poosh does not endorse or recommend any such content or information, or any product or service mentioned in the article. You understand and agree that Poosh shall not be liable for any claim, loss, or damage arising out of the use of, or reliance upon any content or information in the article.

Shop our sex and love collection:

Shop Zee Bullet Vibrator
Shop Kip Lipstick Vibrator
Shop Dip Basic Vibrator
Shop Pom Flexible Vibrator
Shop Aer Suction Toy
Shop Arc G-Spot Vibrator
Shop Com External Wand Vibrator
Shop Eva Couples Vibrator
Shop Fin Finger Vibrator
Shop Let's Get Closer: Couples Edition
Shop Radiant Love Butter
Shop Biodegradable Intimate Wipes
Shop Refresh Daily Wash
Shop Revive Hydrating Mist
Shop Restore Mask
Shop MunkeyBarz Sex Belt
Shop Sydney Double Strand Pearl Thong & Atame - Black
Shop Sydney Double Strand Pearl Thong & Atame - Ivory
Shop Sydney Double Strand Pearl Thong & Atame - Red
Shop Sydney Double Strand Pearl Thong & Glove - Black
Shop Sydney Double Strand Pearl Thong & Glove - Red
Shop Sydney Double Strand Pearl Thong & Glove Set
Shop Sydney Double Strand Pearl Thong - Black
Shop Sydney Double Strand Pearl Thong - Ivory
Shop Sydney Double Strand Pearl Thong - Red
Shop Sydney Glove - Black
Shop Sydney Glove - Red
Shop Sydney Glove Set

Up next, be the first to know our weekly content and sign up for our Poosh newsletter.

You may also like...

Go to article How to Acclimate to a Partner With a Larger Penis
Sexual Wellness

How to Acclimate to a Partner With a Larger Penis

Go to article Why Do I Dissociate During Sex?
Sexual Wellness

Why Do I Dissociate During Sex?

Related Articles

Goes to article FYI: Why Sucking Isn’t Just for Penises 
Sexual Wellness

FYI: Why Sucking Isn’t Just for Penises 

Goes to article What to do if he has a Small Penis
Relationships

What to do if he has a Small Penis

Goes to article DID YOU KNOW…Pelvic Floor Exercises Can Improve Orgasms?
fitness

DID YOU KNOW…Pelvic Floor Exercises Can Improve Orgasms?

Goes to article Does Lube Work in Water?
Sexual Wellness

Does Lube Work in Water?

Goes to article Let’s Talk Nipple Sensitivity
body

Let’s Talk Nipple Sensitivity

Goes to article How to Acclimate to a Partner With a Larger Penis
Sexual Wellness

How to Acclimate to a Partner With a Larger Penis

Goes to article These Vaginal Health Gummies Got Me Some Surprising, Ehem, Feedback
body

These Vaginal Health Gummies Got Me Some Surprising, Ehem, Feedback

Goes to article What’s a Vaginal Orgasm, and How Can I Have One? 
Sexual Wellness

What’s a Vaginal Orgasm, and How Can I Have One? 

  • About
  • Contact
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • California Privacy Rights
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Accessibility

Keep in Touch

instagram pinterest facebook twitter youtube join newsletter
Reviewed by Allyant for Accessibility
  • © poosh, llc
    All Rights Reserved