My Pleasure Center
by Yes, we all have them, but what types of things set yours off?
Most people have something that soothes them, whether it’s a sound, a touch of some sort, or a vision. Although we are all made up in the same basic way, we all have differences in our “pleasure centers” as I call them.
Some folks are more inclined to relaxation if they listen to certain types of sounds, whether it’s music or crickets chirping. Some are relaxed by back rubs and such. I’m not certain what exactly causes one to be more sensitive to certain stimuli than others, anymore than why certain people are broccoli lovers and others aren’t.
I have always been the sort of person that is “cat like” in that just lightly touching me anywhere on my body causes a tingling sensation that is equal to euphoria. I zone out, totally oblivious to anything going on around me.
When I was young I remember falling asleep in class because there was a girl that sat next to me in class that insisted on playing with and braiding the hair of the girl in front of her. Just watching the process sent shivers down my spine and caused me to relax so much that it was as if I myself was getting my hair messed with.
Through the years and after having 4 children, I found that one sure fire way of getting rid of the inevitable stress of life or to calm a horrible headache was to get my hair brushed or my back scratched. Now when I say scratched, I don’t mean like nails scraping layers of skin off, but a light touch. On particularly hectic days, I would hunt down whichever of our children that was bored and gave them the task of doing my hair for a few bucks. That always seemed to be the only way of getting it done as it can be quite boring for the person stuck doing it. I’d usually pay them for an hours worth of service which kept them happy for the time being, or at least until their arms went numb.
As my children grew older, they became immune to moms pleas for relaxation and the temptation of being paid cash for the services. I’d find myself feeling more and more stressed because I had no way of relieving it at this point. My husband was always there for me if I needed him, but often worked very long hours and wasn’t handy.
So, now I have 3 grandchildren that are all aware of Grammies need for stress relief and whenever they see me headed their direction with brush in hand, they run the opposite direction. It’s a big joke in our family, if you happen to walk by mom as she sits at the computer and you accidentally touch her hair, you’re screwed because you have set off the “Please brush my hair!” sequence and it generally doesn’t stop until it’s done.
The hair brushing and the back scratching are only a few of my odd “pleasure centers”. I also have this thing for certain sounds or voices. Here’s a short list that maybe some of you might also have in some way.
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Post CommentF J McCarthy
On February 14, 2009 at 8:56 am
Very interesting read, thanks Swede.
Katien
On February 14, 2009 at 8:58 am
Interesting article. I can’t understand the hair brushing thing, but I know that a lot of animals love being groomed. I go into a different zone when listening to music -it’s like being disconnected from reality.
A Wallbank
On February 14, 2009 at 9:01 am
Very interesting! For me it has to be lying on top of a clean crisp duvet after a bath… sooo comfortable!
payge
On February 14, 2009 at 9:32 am
Very interesting article and it had a unique intake on relaxation.my hair is short,brushes don’t do me no good.But my relaxation is my cross stitching,embriodery and yes,my poetic talents.Ad music to that and I am a very happy lady….p.s….does my 2 grandchildren count as relaxation or the equalivant of a full days work out at your local gym?
Parish Loveless
On February 14, 2009 at 10:46 am
I really like this article. It is very interesting. I have never come across this topic while reading before. It is an essential part of life, I think. Thank you very much for sharing with us. I am intrigued by the subject. I am very similar in the sense that I make sure to keep to my “pleasure points” in order to stay calm and feel at ease. It was also what I found to be essential when I quit drinking. It actually came back to replace any unhealthy addictions and consumption. Again, thank you!
postpunkpixie
On February 14, 2009 at 11:00 am
Interesting article. I can stand being touched myself, unless I know the person extremely well. For me, the most relaxing thing in the world is the combination of jasmine incense, candlelight and music by This Mortal Coil or the Cocteau Twins. So soothing.
Jenny Heart
On February 14, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Very nice! I’m relaxed!
rutherfranc
On February 14, 2009 at 12:45 pm
listen to music, that`s all I need to relax
cardy
On February 14, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Nice work, for me it would have to be reading in bed, aaa bliss.
Clay Hurtubise
On February 14, 2009 at 9:07 pm
Nice, fun piece, but #10, ARG!
Thanks,
Clay
Lee Altman
On February 14, 2009 at 9:45 pm
Nice article, I love to listen to the rain and thunder
macon
On February 15, 2009 at 2:02 am
eucalyptus makes me relax.. i love its scent. but the sound of someone chewing ice? ugh, makes me cringe. thanks for sharing this.
Ebazaar
On February 15, 2009 at 8:43 am
What an eye opener!! Haha, I think i’ve just realized few things that got a direct hit to my pleasure center. Does watching cartoons and anime to soothes oneself consider as an odd stimulant of calmness? ^_^
This is a really fun read, thanks for sharing!
ebazaar
On February 15, 2009 at 8:51 am
What an eye-opener! Now, I realized the few things that can stimulate my pleasure center. I find watching anime and cartoons soothes me very much…while doing so, cuddle up with a good pillow and a good drink….is that odd?
anyway, this is a fun read! Thanks for sharing
Poertyqueen
On February 15, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Interesting aritcle! I always find ways to soothe my soul like listening to music or reading a good book.
S M Blomker
On February 15, 2009 at 9:55 pm
nice article….I like soft music it relaxes me.
S A JOHNSON
On February 16, 2009 at 8:02 am
This is really enjoyable to read and thought provoking.
chadmock
On February 16, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Excellent article. Good Read
C LEBLANC
On February 20, 2009 at 6:51 pm
this was cool. i pray and listen to music. also being with friends and my bfriend helps.
Olivia Reason
On March 26, 2009 at 11:09 pm
I absolutely love this article- for me, I love reading, and reading aloud, burning incense, old school R&B music,I like to let my bird out of his cage and watch him be-bop around my room for a while.
And I like watching something with a captivating male lead- Will Smith in Ali for example or Jimmy Stewart in Mr Smith Goes to Washington.
tee
On April 6, 2009 at 12:46 pm
thanks for this article. i, too, love the sound of crunching — could be anything in addition to ice.
i didn’t understand your music reference, though — flats and sharps are the same thing. (for example, an F# is the same as a G-flat). maybe you could expand?
anonymous
On June 1, 2009 at 1:51 pm
if you can’t find anyone to help you out, try surfing youtube for videos of people doing hair or make-up. that’s how i get vicarious tingles!
Kevin
On May 18, 2010 at 10:48 pm
I’m very pleased in finding out that someone else (you) have experienced (apparently) the same physiological response to certain auditory stimuli as I have.
I have searched in vain for an explanation or even a mention of this phenomenon–until I found your post above.
What have “done it” for me were all human-produced, rhythmic sounds (and in all but the last instance listed below, the source of the sound was either in another room or outside): The rhythmic sound of (someone) raking leaves; the rhythmic sound of (someone) writing on paper; the rhythmic sound of (someone) bouncing a ball on the floor; in one instance, it was the sound of a teacher’s voice as she was explaining something to me.
I would characterize my experiences as extremely relaxing and pleasurable (though no sexual arousal occurred). I would rank it above the pleasure and relaxation I have received from back rubs, which have been for me quite pleasurable. To be clear, the experiences were truly unique: I would liken it to being on a drug (Vicodin comes to mind, to make an imprecise comparison).
Unfortunately, I have only experienced the phenomenon maybe four or five times in my life, most years ago.
Someone who specializes in psychoacoustics may have more knowledge of this phenomenon….
Kevin