ASMR, Hypnotism, and the Placebo effect

[kommisar]

So for those who don't know much about ASMR:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autono...idian_response


I often have debates with my girlfriend over ASMR and its effects (she majored in psychology so it's always interesting). She says that much like hypnotism, you essentially have to be coerced into believing it to feel its effects. The more gullible your mind the more real these feelings or effects are. Whether it be tingles from whispering or believing a pill relieves pain for a chronic illness some people will assert that these effects are real. Locally we also have an "allergy elimination clinic" that takes pride in supposedly eliminating allergies through treatments of this pseudoscience. Some claim to have had their allergies removed entirely. This leads to wonder if said allergies were legitimate in the first place or if they were all your own brainwashing. I find it amazing that you can convince yourself that some side effects can happen (and then become quite real) even though it's complete pseudoscience.

My question is at what point does a simulated state of mind or feeling become real? If you have a powerful propaganda tool convincing someone that a pill will make you feel better and it does, wouldn't that make it legitimate in some sense? This obviously isn't for real diseases that have very real consequences to not seeking professional help where pseudoscience will not help you at all save for maybe some side effects. In other words it would be a fake remedy for a fake illness.

I love watching ASMR videos primarily for their relax tone and ability to focus on a situation designed to "trigger" certain senses. Despite me knowing that it's completely fabricated in my mind I've been able to convince myself that these "tingles" really do happen. If I'm able to consistently replicate a placebo effect, how much legitimate merit does it have?

Chiropractors may not heal my aches and pains (because it's complete bullshit) but if I feel good after a treatment regardless, is it simply a fabricated feeling that I'm conditioned to have just because in society it's "do this feel that" or is there more to it? I'm curious.