Is self flagellation harmful???

[The Suckling]

Ok, I'm a very scrawney and feminine guy most the time but yesterday while listening to some Black Metal I was filled with primal adrenaline and began working out and lifting weights. Then I took out my old whip and began flogging myself.

I can't see anything wrong with it as I'm not drawing blood. I'm just trying to build up my pain tolerance. Could this be harmful in anyway? Because I'm really enjoying it.

[Aengus McTeague]

Just like with lifting weights, you need to build pain tolerance gradually. Don't try to go too far, too quick. Just in case you do draw blood, make sure your skin and whip are clean, and keep some disinfectant handy.

Other than that, the only potential harm is trying to explain if someone sees you flogging yourself.;)

Flogging has been used as one route to spiritual ecstasy for thousands of years. It can bring on an endorphin flood which is similar to a "runners high". Many report the same phenomenon when being tatooed or pierced. If this method feels right to you, don't let small minds and scare tactics stop you, but always use common sense and judgement.

Happy flogging!
Aengus

[The Suckling]

OK then!!!!!! :)

[Siren]

nothing wrong with flogging...

i quite enjoy a good flog or two...usually at the hands of someone else...someone who i can trust....of course...

and yes, it can lead to some great releases and some wonderful feelings....

kinda like sex....

[ANUR36]

I second that Siren........

[Illuminatus]

In a word?... Yes.

Any habit that is self-destructive in nature, even if it's only symbolic, is a bad thing. Now the welts on your back may heal, and you may have thrown your body into sharp relief from whatever it is you are running from... but as I like to say, condoning a bad practice (in your case, auto-mutilation) sets a bad precedent.

Maybe you should ask the question of WHY you are whipping yourself. Not with me, I'm cruel and insensitive. But with one of the MW counselors, maybe Danustouch. Because whipping and beating are only a few steps away from burning yourself or cutting yourself, and then who knows what wackiness will ensue, if you don't work through whatever issues you're dealing with.

- Ill

[Adrenaline Junkie]

Originally posted by Illuminatus
...Because whipping and beating are only a few steps away from burning yourself or cutting yourself, and then who knows what wackiness will ensue, if you don't work through whatever issues you're dealing with.

I agree. I was wondering if I was the only one seeing anything wrong with this. That is until I saw your reply Ill.

Anywho, there is nothing right about doing it. Hurting yourself, in my opinion is nothing like sex. It's idiotic. I'm sorry if this sounds harsh bro, but whipping yourself is abnormal.

Of course, individuals like Shamans used flogging to bring on spiritual awareness. But this is, like how many years ago. Of course some people find gentle flogging attractive in sex, but it's not a beating.

Reconsider what you're doing. I was once a very thin guy, and to a degree still am a bit thin. But I worked out and hard and I gained a lot of muscle, and guess what ... I'm not so small anymore. You can do it too.

[seawitch]

i've never know a guy who couldn't benefit from a good sound thrashing.
i have always been facinated by the ritual of flagalation.
but to answer question, i maybe quite dangerous.the risk of infection, is the first to come to mind

[Myst]

Originally posted by Illuminatus
Because whipping and beating are only a few steps away from burning yourself or cutting yourself

Exactly.

[TheTheologin]

Boy am I glad that I wasn't the only one to see this as a major issue. I agree with Ill. You need to find out WHY you're whipping yourelf. I know I know............your building up your pain tolerance........well guess what..........that's a load of $h!t!!!!

I know from experience...........weight lifting and stuff like that is painful and if it isn't YOU'RE NOT DOING IT RIGHT. The reason our pecks and abs and all that good stuff get larger when we work out it because the muscle tears and then heals over. Therefore you WILL feel pain if you're doing it right.

Believe me you do not need to whip yourself in order to maintain a higher pain tolerance. That's like purposely getting alcohol poisening to increase your alcohol tolerance. IT ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN!

[Illuminatus]

Originally posted by TheTheologin
That's like purposely getting alcohol poisening to increase your alcohol tolerance. IT ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN!

Actually that works. But it's really not a good idea.

[Haedis]

I really does depend on WHY you're doing it. WHY does it feel good to you? You should really put some thought into this. Although I agree it can lead to self-destructive behavior, i dont see anything wrong with a good ol fashioned whipping hehe. This IS serious but it sort of depends on the circumstances. If its a form of self-punishment or done for violent purposes then its not a good idea. Other than that...flog away pal!

[Xander67]

Flog away??? :o No sir, Im sorry, I agree with the majority here,

yes, it may be true that the more you whip the more pain you may be able ot endure, but that is not how it is supposed to work..

in martial arts they do teach endurance and pain tolerance, but it is done in a healty way that does not harm the psyche and desensitise you .....


In my opinion, self flogging is actually unhealthy in that what you are doing is inflicting pysical pain to your body, and naturally your subconscience sees this as "I dont care about my body, I dont like my body" no matter what your conscious reasons for doing it may be, your higher self( that part that knows all) sees only you willfully inflicting pain on yourself and then it withdraws soo deep inside of your soul that you one day, to your horror, wake up and the things that one day made you laugh, cry, or smile....no longer touch you in that way because your spirit is so far disconected from your mind that your heart is cold as Ice...

the facts speak for themselves, do you laugh as much as you used to, and for a 15 year old to be doing this, that is also much more dangerous because you are still a child, reguardless of your education ...you are still spiritually developing and crap like that will only hinder your growth.....

[mol]

Well, the only time I have used any type of 'floggin' would be in ritual punishment for doing something I have set out to NOT do. But, other than that I dunno...

I sure as heck dont get off on it. It hurts...it aint sexy.

[TheTheologin]

Originally posted by Illuminatus


Actually that works. But it's really not a good idea.

The reason I say it isn't going to happen is eventually it will kill you .


Suckling..............do you understand that once whipping no longer inflicts pain on you, you are going to look for something else that will cause you pain and then honey it gets much worse.

[Illuminatus]

Whipping other people however, that's perfectly healthy.