My Pleasure Center
by Yes, we all have them, but what types of things set yours off?
- Something about Kyra Sedgewick soothes me. Don’t ask what because I have no idea.
- The sound of snow when you walk on it.
- The feel of frost in the top of a freezer.
- The smell of eucalyptus.
- The sound of fingers sliding across acoustic guitar strings.
- The smell of a new air mattress for a pool.
- Listening to Irish people speak. Although I have no idea what they are saying, it soothes me.
- I am particularly more relaxed when listening to music consisting of more flats than sharps.
- I turn to slush when I view art pieces of the medieval era. I find myself staring at it for the longest time.
- The sound of someone chewing ice.
Now people might say that they have many of the above mentioned, but these are not simply things I like, they are things that hit my “pleasure center” in a way that literally shuts off all my muscles and allows me to relax in a way that is different from just kicking back and listening to music.
I have thought about all these things for years, trying to figure out if there is some odd connection between them all that might link to something I loved as a child, but have failed at it. I don’t know what causes people to experience things like this, but it happens to all of us, just in different ways. Some may be really odd, some may be completely normal. But I for one wish someone, somewhere would open up a shop where people like me and others like me can just go to get their hair messed with and not have to get it cut or styled or washed. I’ve heard of many women going to the beauty salon once a week just to enjoy getting their hair brushed or whatever, but really didn’t want the washing and styling done. Hell, I’d pay $50.00 and hour to get mine done, but unfortunately a shop like that will never exist.
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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