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

Some people are very easily offended

Plucking any kind of hair is extremely soothing, I often wish I was hairier so I had more to pluck. The one sad little toe hair I get? Pityful.

When my skin is itchy I like to run the hot water in the bath water until it feels like it might burn.

I like to push down on my belly button - I asked DH to give me a stomach massage when I felt like i had trapped wind, it hurt but was amazing!

Oh god, yes, I remember that feeling of pushing hard against a raw gum when you had wobbly teeth. Wonderful.

I also love pressing bruises.

I also love the feeling of all over low-level aching the day after exercise. Like I can actually feel my body, hard to explain but I love it.

Interesting little piece of knowledge for the delicate posters just upthread, there are many people who actually do self harm but we don't feel pain because we dissociate. Not all, but certainly some.

I love the pain of getting them waxed. Could get it done all day

And not everyone who self harms does it for the pain or to ‘feel alive’. Some people do it out of extreme stress and frustration, lashing out at themselves instead of something/someone else.

On another note, I cannot relate to the waxing/plucking one at all. It feels horrible to me, especially plucking the hairs from the outermost edge

I don't think we are 'delicate' nor 'easily offended' as the OP says, but more that we are different and don't find such pursuits enjoyable (probably not the right word).

As someone with chronic illness and having suffered back spasms and other pain for over a decade now (and period pain my entire reproductive life), I do not enjoy pain on any level one little bit! I find it hard to understand that others might. I guess there's something new to learn every day.

I don't think we are 'delicate' nor 'easily offended' as the OP says, but more that we are different and don't find such pursuits enjoyable (probably not the right word).
One poster certainly was easily offended as they reported the thread! Just because people enjoy different things.

Clearly after reading the entire post too 😂 like...just don't 💁🏽‍♀️

I read the whole post. This was the bit I was responding to. I don't think the OP was calling anyone easily offended for suffering from chronic pain, at least one poster was trying to shut down the conversation by reporting.

I think you can only shut down the conversation by MN deleting the post. Someone saying they are 'reporting' is just that. Doesn't mean much really.

I love it when my hair has been up and then the pain at the roots when it hangs back down freely again.

Probably not good for my hair but still.

Yes, I was responding to the poster who said they’d reported the thread.

I wasn’t referring to you, I was commenting on the bit you quoted. I know what you meant 😊

Oh, ok!

Who are you going to report the fact that people like pain to – God? 🤣

I don't love pain but I find it interesting learning about the human species! Did you know endorphins from pain (e.g. runner's high, enjoying spicy food, etc) activates the same region of our brain associated with love and music?

I find it fascinating too. I’ve wondered if there are some neuronal polymorphisms behind it.

When I was a child I used to love dripping hot wax from a candle onto my hands. And as a teenager, getting my ears pierced with a gun, that tiny pop of pain (I don't enjoy a needle nearly as much).
It seems to have gone for the moment but when I've had athlete's foot, the best thing is putting on quite a rough cotton sock and rubbing it till it's almost raw.
I can't quite see why discussing these things is offending anyone.

And as a teenager, getting my ears pierced with a gun, that tiny pop of pain (I don't enjoy a needle nearly as much).
I had my lobes triple pierced and a helix piercing mostly for that pop. I used to use them all but don't bother with any anymore.

I self harm. It is part of my mental health issues. None of what is being described in this thread would even register as something to look into by a MH professional.
People are not doing anything they are talking about as a way to cope with difficult emotions, or to pull themselves back when disassociating.

I've got an ear infection at the minute and I quite like poking in there with a cotton bud to clean it. Hurts so good!

I also quite enjoy having a painful period or a heavy cold. Haven't had a proper good cold this winter at all.

Omg this just made me LOL 😂

I love peeling skin after a sunburn - not always painful but always enjoyable!

Salt on an ulcer. I only like it up to a certain point before it gets unbearable though. Some of you are pure masochists