sunshinemiss -> RE: Help to recover from bdsm.. (3/21/2012 5:23:28 AM)
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Here's my thought, for what it's worth. Take what you need and leave the rest! There are people who can become addicted to BDSM. However, it isn't the BDSM per se that is the addiction - it can be the thrill, the chase, the dependence on another person. It is *for those people* a symptom of a deeper issue. Sex addicts will often participate in BDSM just so they can get the sex hit they are looking for. Drug addicts will sometimes get involved in BDSM (and other things- like prostitution) in order to engage in drug usage with another person. Codependent people may get involved in an unhealthy relationship to fuel their dependence. People with food addictions may get involved with people who control their food as part of a BDSM relationship. While all of these people may be engaging in BDSM activities, it is not the activity or the behavior itself that is the issue. It is a SYMPTOM FOR THAT PERSON of a deeper problem. In Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous, people are encouraged to identify their "bottom line" behaviors which tend to fuel their unhealthy addiction. For some of those people, it is BDSM-related behavior. People in Alcoholics Anonymous identify the things that affect them (alcohol, ahem) and that can include leather events if the smell of leather triggers them. (They may have only drunk in a leather bar before, for example). The thing about addiction - particularly ones that are related less to physical symptoms and more to brain function (and let's face it - where do the endorphins dance but the brain?) - is that they are rarely exactly the same from one person to another. They are connected with a biochemical response as well as habitual behavior, ruminating thoughts, etc. If BDSM related activities create a disturbance in your ability to interact in a healthy way in the world, it is probably worth looking at that with your sponsor / therapist / counselor. It may be that this is one of those items on the "Person, place, and thing" list that you may need to give up for healthy reasons. It sounds like SLAA may be a good place for you to go to get some support around healthy sexuality. Even if you are not an addict, clearly you have some concerns. Finally, not all people who drink are alcoholics, not all people who eat ice cream are compulsive overeaters, and not all people who participate in BDSM activities are addicts. good luck, sunshine
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