Here’s another question I received through our Have A Question page for those who have questions but want to ask them anonymously.
This is more a question of curiosity. What do you think about breath play? science, appropriateness etc…
Breath play is … well … playing with someone’s ability to breath. This can involve masks that restrict breathing, holding your hand over their mouth and nose, or chocking and blocking someone’s trachea (windpipe). This is sometimes called asphyxiophilia, autoerotic asphyxia (if you do it to yourself) or hypoxyphilia.
Now, for those that recoil and say “WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!” The reason is that when you restrict the airflow, you cause a buildup of carbon dioxide in the brain which can result in feelings of giddiness, lightheartedness and pleasure all which enhance the erotic experience. It’s been said that the rush is as powerful as cocaine and highly addictive.
HOWEVER, there is a huge risk involved, obviously, because you’re restricting their ability to breathe. In order to reach the level’s of carbon dioxide needed to produce this effect, you need to be depleting the brain of oxygen for significant periods. Too long and you can cause brain damage, and go longer than that and … well, people die from this every year, both alone, and with a partner.
So, what do I think of this practice?
DON’T DO IT!
Sex is good enough! You don’t need to risk each other’s life to make it better! That’s what I think anyways. I don’t know what else to say.
You are dancing with DEATH.
I don’t get it. If I’m congested and can’t breath well, it becomes harder for me to climax. I consider it a form of abuse much like self-cutting. It is an abuse of the body.
I am not totally asphyxiated, but my husband will put his hand at the base of my neck and squeeze. I still can breathe, but it’s more restricted. I enjoy it and it does add to the arousal. I also enjoy him pulling on my hair or restraining my arms. So I don’t know if the arousing part is the actual restriction of air or the fact he’s dominating or both.
If you can still breathe, then that typically wouldn’t be considered the same sort of activity. Still, be careful.
People…seriously, there are so many things that you can do other than this to make sex exciting. I have asthma and I have had my blood oxygen levels get dangerous…that’s when they hospitalize you…and tell your parents that all they can do at this point is pray. Seriously…don’t do it. Seriously.
This is dark to me and like playing with fire. Surely this isn’t healthy either physically or emotionally.