To find these pains pleasurable? (Not sex-related!)

[TokyoStories]

I assume I’m not the only person in the world to experience this but I never come across anyone talking about it.

Ever since I was a child and I experienced my first loose tooth I realised I enjoyed the pain of pushing it hard against my gum. I did it constantly until it bled. This triggered life-long problems with jaw clenching, teeth grinding and TMD. It’s like I’m addicted to it and I can’t wait to do it again even though I know it’s so bad and I end up with severe facial pain and spasms (which isn’t pleasurable).

So…

Grinding and clenching my jaw feels wonderful

Poking at my gums is bliss (I’ve avoided doing this since I was a teen as I know how very bad it is but I still think about it)

Pressing hard on bruises is heavenly

Leg cramps are amazing

The moments after extreme menstrual cramps (endometriosis) finish feel euphoric.

I have no interest in BDSM or any sort of sex-pain so I don’t think it’s ‘masochism’. It just genuinely feels so nice. I know IABU to my body, but who else feels like this? I can’t be the only one.

YABU = that’s madness
YANBU = I know what you mean

I read something recently that our central nervous system releases endorphins when we experience pain. This is supposed to block pain and can create feelings of euphoria.

www.bbc.com/future/article/20151001-why-pain-feels-good#:~:text=For%20a%20start%2C%20all%20pain,to%20induce%20feelings%20of%20euphoria

@Okunevo there's definitely a scale that you can ask to see, if you can feel any pain at all that would be a 1 or 2, it's not about how much you care I think, but what you're feeling? Like going "well I get a blinding pain if I stand up, so I just sit down so it's fine." Lol

Here's a link to an example pain scale. It's not meant to be subjective, I think, since what is a 0 for you might be a 3 for me based on how much I care that I'm feeling pain. I'll usually take tablets for a headache!

I can't stand any pain in or by my head or face, but I quite like the feeling of aching muscles when you have COVID/flu.

DP and I are both big fans of ‘New Skin’ for minor cuts and grazes. The instant shot of intense pain… it’s amazing.

If ever one of us cuts ourself on something, the other rushes to the cupboard for the New Skin so that we can indulge.

@Triantha So I should only say nil if feeling normal? What if I can feel something but it's not unpleasant? Is that a 1 to 3 even if it's not pain?

Is something still pain if it's not suffering, no negative emotion attached? Positive emotion means it's pleasure, but sometimes I can just feel something but there is no emotion.

I used to.live the feeling of the Covid swab when I was extracting it from my nose🙄🤣

Another tooth wobbler here. I sometimes even dream about having wobbly teeth (probably has done deep psychological meaning)

Flossing my back teeth with a tepee stick, I could rub away at my gum for ages.

I do this too 😳

Scratching itchy skin until it bleeds.

Oh no this is way too painful and goes past the point of pleasure 😆

@Okunevo I don't know to be honest! It might be worth mentioning you think you have an abnormal pain response, that you can feel it but it doesn't bother you really. I suppose it means you might not need painkillers for something but if you're injured or feeling a weird pain that's new (like kidney pain for example) you still need it treated or it could get worse.

You should probably mention if at the doc's/hospital that they shouldn't base their assessment of severity on how you rate your pain, as your tolerance is very high. That will mean they have to do further investigation rather than just sending you away because you "feel fine".
It sounds like you still get feedback from painful stimuli, it just doesn't bother you.

I'd hate to think a doctor would miss something like appendicitis or a kidney stone just because the pain isn't bothering you the way it would someone else.

Ooh, wait till you get to middle age and find the odd one on your chin.
It's bliss on another level 😍

Scab picking

It sounds like you still get feedback from painful stimuli, it just doesn't bother you.
Yes, it's often sensation without negative emotion, no drive to make the sensation stop. Like others have mentioned, sometimes things can be pleasure as I want to keep feeling the sensation.

@Triantha
I'd hate to think a doctor would miss something like appendicitis or a kidney stone just because the pain isn't bothering you the way it would someone else.
I'd still seek medical attention as I would know something was wrong. I might not rate it as high as others, I don't know, I haven't experienced those things. The midwives thought I was at the hospital too early until they checked and I was 8cm dilated. I knew the baby was coming!

Makes perfect sense. That’s why I like a massage…get right into those trigger points. Pain and pleasure all at once.

Electric shocks, like static shocks. Thrilling!

Hard leg day at the gym. It's bloody sore and makes me feel like I'm walking like I've shit myself but the deep ache is divine.

I honestly think any pain involving my eyebrows in unbearable. An eyebrow wax is worse than a crotch wax.

I love pressing on bruises as well! Also like the aches you get in your legs after you've walked a really long way. When they're so stiff you can hardly move.

Bikini wax and blood pressure monitors !

Me too!

It's because it releases "feel good" hormones.

It's the same reason some people self harm when life feels shit. You get an instant rush of feeling good.