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ORIGINAL: leadership527

You know I have never really given much thought to "subspace". But lately there's been this thing happening which sure sounds like a lot of the symptoms. Although honestly what people call "subspace" I'd probably call "bottomspace" since it's directly tied to SM practices and pain and endorphins.

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ORIGINAL: winspiritsbaby

I have read that some subs enjoy being in subspace and their dominants enjoy putting them there. I have a mild understanding of subspace but I'm not sure if I understand why someone would want to go there or put their sub there? I would think that this puts more responsibility on the dominant to ensure the sub's safety. Is this just for 'adrenaline junkies'?

I also don't understand whether there are signs before that point is reached that the sub is heading in that direction?

Sorry if these questions have already been asked, I tried to search but didn't really see anything that matched.

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It may take more awareness but not more responsibility.

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I could, I'm sure, specifically command her not to go there but man, what a buzz kill for her.

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ORIGINAL: Awareness

  Subspace is a trance state, the hallmarks of which generally include the temporary suppression or disabling of some cognitive functions.  Typically awareness of surroundings and volition with increased suggestibility.

While some appear to use the endorphin rush to send their sub into subspace, I've never found it necessary.  I find trance induction fairly easy to the point where it occurs without conscious thought.  I do occasionally wonder if there's a difference between dropping your sub into subspace and beating them into it - it's possible these are two slightly different aspects of the same phenomena.  Then again, they may be nothing alike.

So, from my perspective, adrenalin has absolutely nothing to do with it.  Subspace is virtually a consequence of the Dom/sub interaction and while the sub's in that state of diminished awareness and volition, the Dom must exercise more vigilance since the sub cannot fend for themselves.

As to why - it's probably a fairly primal expression of the reasons why Doms and subs do what they do.  Doms dominate and there's nothing quite like overwhelming someone's will with your own.  Subs submit and there's nothing quite as submissive as giving up all volition and placing yourself in someone's hands.

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ORIGINAL: myotherself

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ORIGINAL: Awareness

  Subspace is a trance state, the hallmarks of which generally include the temporary suppression or disabling of some cognitive functions.  Typically awareness of surroundings and volition with increased suggestibility.

I would disagree with some of this - while I'm in subspace I'm actually hyper-aware of what's going on round me. My senses are increased - hearing and touch mostly. However my motor functions are pretty much screwed - I can barely move for several minutes, and opening my eyes can be the hardest task in the world

I'm certainly no more suggestible than I am when fully alert, and apart from having my eyes closed a lot of the time, I am fully aware of my surroundings. He can ask questions that I understand, but I cannot articulate an answer. However as soon as I start coming round I can give him the answers he asked for.

I have also been sent into subspace without pain being involved. I was tired after spending the night talking, the Domme in question had a tone to her voice that I always find compelling, and she had me close my eyes and do deep breathing, much like the semi-trance state I sometimes go into while meditating. It was a very different experience to the pain-induced state in that it was not as deep, and I fully believe I could have "snapped out of it" with a fairly minor mental push, if I had wanted to. I can't do this in pain-induced subspace. Believe me, I've tried, lol!

The final difference is that in coming round from pain-induced subspace I'm usually horny as hell. Sex while I'm coming back to normal is absolutely mind-blowing In the other kind of subspace, I had no sexual desires at all.

YMMV

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ORIGINAL: winspiritsbaby
Some of what you describe sounds very similar to relaxation techniques used in psychotherapy.

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ORIGINAL: Awareness

  Offhand that would suggest possible differences, although your description of the second sounds like a simple meditative trance rather than the subspace experience I'm familiar with.

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ORIGINAL: myotherself

The final difference is that in coming round from pain-induced subspace I'm usually horny as hell. Sex while I'm coming back to normal is absolutely mind-blowing In the other kind of subspace, I had no sexual desires at all.

I probably shouldn't post...but I am glad someone said this.  I am a switch that prefers the Domme side.  When I subspaced (from D/s, not from pain play) it was an amazingly soft, fuzzy, floaty feeling that was blissful and peaceful...but not in the least bit sexual.  LOL. 

It was such a shock when I switched, and the buzz I got from mental/emotional D/s gave me some hard physical arousal. 

The buzz I get from sadism alone (when I am topping someone I cannot connect with on a D/s level mentally/emotionally, if you know what I mean) does not make me walk like a duck but still makes me feel energized.