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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

124 replies

TokyoStories · 01/04/2023 14:48

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

OP posts:
IfIHadAHeart · 02/04/2023 22:30

Getting a tattoo. It hurts but in a really nice way

Plump82 · 02/04/2023 22:38

I like blowing the hairdryer on an itch to the point it's about to burn and then moving it away. Started when I came out in a rash that the docs couldn't diagnose and I was drying my hair and realised the heat was taking the itch away. Fabulous for insect bites as well.

UnicornsDoExist · 02/04/2023 22:41

Borris · 02/04/2023 21:06

If my hair needs a wash then taking a tuft and circling it at the root feels divine. I salivate

Same 😂

NotAnotherBathBomb · 02/04/2023 22:46

I had the most painful deep tissue massage. It was bliss Blush

XenoBitch · 02/04/2023 22:46

I love plucking my nostril hair. One at a time. The thicker it is, the better.
Same with the hair around my temples. Even better if it has a bulbous root.

Years ago, I had Athlete's Foot. It was amazing. I scratched until I bled, but it was so satisfying that I didn't care.

Ihategoingtothehairdressers · 02/04/2023 22:51

Love it when a loose eyelash goes in my eye and the root scratches. I have to try really hard not to pull them out and put them in deliberately.

moveoverye · 02/04/2023 22:51

This is the weirdest thing I have read on here.
And now I am feeling abnormal because so many people seem to enjoy pain, and I most definitely do not. I have a reasonably high pain threshold, but enjoy it I do not.

TulipTuesday · 02/04/2023 22:55

Ihategoingtothehairdressers · 02/04/2023 22:51

Love it when a loose eyelash goes in my eye and the root scratches. I have to try really hard not to pull them out and put them in deliberately.

Oh god me too!

I love things going in my eye and I get to root around and pull them out. The best is when there’s a long string of goo that runs along the inside of your eyelid 🤤

SwedishEdith · 02/04/2023 22:59

Really, really rubbing itchy hayfever eyes. You know you shouldn't but it feels so nice.

I loved the tooth thing as a child - pushing it with your tongue. An infant teacher once just twisted my loose tooth and pulled it out 😮

CrunchyCarrot · 02/04/2023 23:17

moveoverye · 02/04/2023 22:51

This is the weirdest thing I have read on here.
And now I am feeling abnormal because so many people seem to enjoy pain, and I most definitely do not. I have a reasonably high pain threshold, but enjoy it I do not.

I'm 100% with you! I cannot bear any pain, no matter how small.

Original poster
TokyoStories · 02/04/2023 23:24

Yes to boob soreness when you’re due on, rubbing them is so painful but so good at the same time.

The eyelash in the eye thing, WTF? I can’t relate to that one.

Yes to stretching. Particularly legs in the air. I used to get boyfriends to push against them. So nice.

I’ve thought of another one although I wouldn’t say it caused pain, more of a weird side effect of a painful condition. I sometimes get pompholyx eczema on my hands and running the blisters under scalding hot water is like heaven on earth.

OP posts:
Original poster
TokyoStories · 02/04/2023 23:25

SwedishEdith · 02/04/2023 22:59

Really, really rubbing itchy hayfever eyes. You know you shouldn't but it feels so nice.

I loved the tooth thing as a child - pushing it with your tongue. An infant teacher once just twisted my loose tooth and pulled it out 😮

Ughhh yes. I have year-round allergies and rubbing my eyes is such bliss, although I don’t indulge so much these days as I worry about my eyes getting baggier than they already are.

OP posts:
glowyhighway · 02/04/2023 23:28

PollyAmour · 01/04/2023 14:56

I know you say that it's not sexual, but deriving pleasure from pain is masochistic and deemed a perversion. You'll have a queue of BDSM fans clamouring to tell their stories of genital mutilation if you're not careful Grin

I guess at least it's your own pain you enjoy and not that of others, because that would be even more disturbing.

I don't think this is like a kink. This sounds like some kind of neurological / biological response to pain – I've read that it's something to do with endorphins / opioids. It's also why people self-harm when they feel bad, and why the "pain" of intense exercise or cold water baths or whatever can feel good. I also find slight pain (e.g. cutting my nails too short, plucking hair out) a nice feeling (though definitely not to the extent of OP).

Whereas I feel like the pleasure associated with the BDSM thing is mental. It's not that receiving pain in itself, regardless of the source, feels good. The key thing is the source of the pain: a dom/master/etc, who is higher up in the hierarchy. For the sub, their pain being used for another's pleasure is one way for them to derive personal or sexual worth/value. It's possible that people who like BDSM have a biologically higher threshold for pain, but a lot of the pleasure comes from the interpersonal dynamics.

MiningForYou · 02/04/2023 23:36

I love picking scabs when they hurt a little bit. Even better if the scab comes off in one large piece.

Astralitzia · 02/04/2023 23:37

glowyhighway · 02/04/2023 23:28

I don't think this is like a kink. This sounds like some kind of neurological / biological response to pain – I've read that it's something to do with endorphins / opioids. It's also why people self-harm when they feel bad, and why the "pain" of intense exercise or cold water baths or whatever can feel good. I also find slight pain (e.g. cutting my nails too short, plucking hair out) a nice feeling (though definitely not to the extent of OP).

Whereas I feel like the pleasure associated with the BDSM thing is mental. It's not that receiving pain in itself, regardless of the source, feels good. The key thing is the source of the pain: a dom/master/etc, who is higher up in the hierarchy. For the sub, their pain being used for another's pleasure is one way for them to derive personal or sexual worth/value. It's possible that people who like BDSM have a biologically higher threshold for pain, but a lot of the pleasure comes from the interpersonal dynamics.

Show quote history

You're confusing domination with sadomasochism. They are two separate things, although they can of course cross over. You don't need to be into bondage or domination / submission to enjoy sadomasochism.

The enjoyment of physical pain is why a lot of people like sadomasochism. It's not for me personally but I very much get where OP is coming from for things like poking gums or scratching!

Gwendolines1 · 02/04/2023 23:44

Ingrown toenails. Digging and cutting them out, best pain ever.

NoGoodUsernamee · 02/04/2023 23:53

I cannot relate to a single one of these, you’re all mad. 😆

Muffintopper · 02/04/2023 23:55

Or when you've had thise ankle socks on and they've really dug into your skin, so you give the tender indents a good scratch!

RicherThanYews · 02/04/2023 23:58

I understand what you mean Op. I used to love wearing very high heels for hours on end until I couldn't stand and then taking them off, the removal of the shoes was agonising but also wonderful, especially the necessary foot squeeze afterwards.

CoalCraft · 03/04/2023 05:57

Muffintopper · 02/04/2023 23:55

Or when you've had thise ankle socks on and they've really dug into your skin, so you give the tender indents a good scratch!

Yes! Most of these are mad but I can relate to this one!

I also think it feels nice when your fingers/toes are numb from cold and you come into the warm. That sore tingly feeling as the nerves wake up is lovely. Also pins and needles is a lot of fun.

DanaScully53 · 03/04/2023 06:58

Walking through thistles. It's like lots of tiny electrical shocks but gone in a split second.

IconicKitty · 03/04/2023 06:59

This thread is an uncomfortable read tbh. Some of the behaviours mentioned here are nothing but self harm.

Robin233 · 03/04/2023 14:01

I agree and have reported it.

NotAnotherBathBomb · 03/04/2023 15:39

Robin233 · 03/04/2023 14:01

I agree and have reported it.

Confused
ApocalypseNowt · 03/04/2023 15:41

I love washing my hands in water that is far to hot. Lovely nice scaldy feeling! Grin

Also enjoy picking scabs. Mmmm....

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