Waterfalls, Rain Sounds and Relaxation

Over the years in school, I have discovered that not only do showers and the sound of running bath tubs help me to relax and think, but also helps me to understand difficult textbooks and articles.  Unfortunately, I cannot stay in the bathroom all day with the tap running, so I've turned to some alternatives. 

Now, when I'm at my computer, I tend to go to the Niagara Falls Webcam from the Hilton Fallsview Hotel.  It provides quite soothing rushing water sounds that also act as a good sound barrier for other sensory issues. 

However, when I'm away from my computer, I need to rely on Apps to provide me with anxiety reducing sounds.  So I took a look at quite a few.  Instead of doing independent posts for all of them, I'm putting together the ones I found worked the best, mainly that they did not stop when my iPod went idle. 

eSleep lite

 eSleep lite is perhaps my favourite.  Developed by Vanke Software, the lite version is free on Apple devices.  Tracks can be customized with multiple music and sounds.  A timer and alarm can be set.  Recordings can be made, and it doesn't shut off when in idle.  Unfortunately, it does not work in the background.  

SleepMaker

Sleepmaker has a number of apps, most focusing on specific sound tracks.  The one I like and tested was the storm app.  It includes various 45 min tracks of different storms and rain sounds.  While it has no timer, it does work in idle and in the background, so I could multitask on my iPod. 

There are both free lite versions and paid pro versions available on Apple and Android devices. 

Relax Waterfall

Relax Waterfall is a freebie part of the paid app Napuru, which includes the other sounds and tracks not included in this one.  From what I can tell, the only difference in the apps is the collection of tracks.  The free version is pretty good as it is, with a single track of a waterfall.  It also has an alarm, and works in the background and in idle. 

SleepStream Classic Lite

I tried the SleepStream Classic Lite, although now Explosive Apps has more versions out for 99¢ to 8.99$.  The Classic Lite version is still free though.  It has a selection of tracks, such as birdsong, rain, and ocean waves.  The player is very simple and easy to use, and plays in idle and in the background.   So it's a very decent player. 

Personally, I think that the tricky part with relaxation tracks is finding the right one that works for you.  So what would work for me might not work for other autistics.  However, I feel that these four apps are the best choices currently available. 

The Miracle Modus

I found out about this app in the most interesting way.  Basically, I happen to know the programmer/developer who made this, being a long-time friend of a mutual friend, and follow both of them on Tumblr. 

The Miracle Modus

Seebs is an autistic programmer who made the Miracle Modus as a way to migrate sensory overload and stress.  It provides rhythmic rainbow shapes and bell sounds in a variety of patterns that can be soothing.

While even Seebs admits that not all autistic people will benefit from the app, especially when the patterns are subtle and the sounds not right, there have been quite a few reports and reviews that say it has been very helpful.  

I tried it myself, because I find spiralling patterns and sounds to be calming.  Sometimes I found a lack of control with the settings.  While I could turn off certain modes, there is no way (at this time; Seebs is continuing to work on it and does appreciate feedback) to flip between modes in a controlled manner. 

Overall, I felt myself relaxed while watching, listening and playing with it, and highly suggest it for people who like and find moving shapes and bell sounds relaxing. 

It is free and available for most Apple devices and Android devices. 

Yoga Sound

Yoga Sound is originally to help focus while doing Yoga, and has claims to also help people relax, deal with stress, and get to sleep.  By developer George Talusan, the app is $0.99 in the iTunes App store.  Talusan also has other, very similar looking apps for a range of prices, some of which are free off and on, and seem to be the same thing repackaged over and over again.


The app itself is a very simple media player with pre-loaded sound clips of ocean surfs, birds, waterfalls, rain and other such sounds.  It will only play these clips and other sounds that can be purchased for $0.99 each.  

What I found is that while I liked the free clips available, the player pauses if I move out of the app, or if the ipod goes into safe mode.  Which is really annoying, and it doesn't look like there is an option menu to change it.  

I think that what would be a better alternative to this app is to purchase music you find to be relaxing, add it to your regular player, such as itunes, and just have it on repeat.