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BDSM & Mental Disorders

BDSM & Mental Disorders: Therapy Or Threat?

It eludes me as to how the mental health system can make an overall determination of what is normal. I think they focus too much on the possibility of chemical imbalance, and do not consider environmental factors. My personal experience is that their first solution is to prescribe mind-altering medication which covers up the problem, rather than teach skills which will identify the cause and correct the problem.

My involvement with BDSM has proven to be therapeutic, because the Dominants and submissives I interact with use techniques which (1) point out problematic behavior patterns, (2) teach skills to replace those patterns, and (3) use corrective reinforcement to maintain those changes. For some individuals, it could be only one or two areas which need minor attention; for others such as myself, it may require re-learning the most basic life and social skills. I have found it most helpful when working with an experienced couple or group, because the Dominant(s) offers instruction while the submissive(s) serves as an example to follow.

This blog is intended to:

* inform the public of the facts and correct misconceptions surrounding various mental illnesses

* exchange experiences with personality, mood, and anxiety disorders within the BDSM community

* share my continued journey in the Lifestyle so that I and O/others can follow and reflect on my personal growth

I want this to be an interactive project . Com ments from all members of the BDSM community are welcome. My only requirements are honesty and courtesy -- be polite, but do not walk on eggshells. Anger and hurt feelings are a fact of life; eventually they will go away. This blog is cross-posted on Alt.

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Definition Of "Disorder" And "Normal"	Aug 3, 2009 6:16 am 52 Views
Disorder "to disturb the order of, to disturb the regular or normal functions of" Normal "not deviating from rule or principle, occuring naturally" This is a "read only" topic.
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The Term BDSM Covers A Lot Of Ground.	Aug 3, 2009 6:19 am 49 Views
"BDSM" is an umbrella term that is used to cover many different alternative lifestyle activities. Every individual chooses what element(s) to incorporate into T/their own lifestyle. Alt has broken BDSM into three categories, and Wikipedia defines these categories as follows: 1. Bondage and Discipline: a set of acts that sometimes involve D/s or S&M; although discipline often implies a level of suffering (real or pretend), participants may stop short of causing actual pain 2. Domination and submission: control over another, or being controlled by another, respectively--typically describes a relationship power dynamic rather than a set of acts, and may or may not involve sadomasochism 3. Sadism and masochism: gratification in the infliction of pain or humiliation upon another person, or gratification from receiving the infliction of pain or humiliation Please keep this in mind when reading and responding to posts in this blog, and do not assume that an individual is participating in a "dangerous" activity. If Y/your opinion differs based on the active involvement within a specific category(s) please indicate this in Y/your response. For the record, my primary category of interest is Domination and submission. I am not currently active in a D/s relationship, but I am looking for a Mentor to interact with 1-on-1. Also, I have an interest in future participation with Bondage and Discipline; and an interest in Sadism and masochism for observation only. My current mental health diagnoses are Borderline Personality Disorder and Anxiety Disorder. This is a "read only" topic.
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Paraphilia and Gender Identity Disorder	Aug 3, 2009 6:23 am 56 Views
T/those Living In Glass Houses Should Not Cast Stones General society is often close-minded and judgemental, as W/we in the BDSM community are well aware. I would think that this would make U/us immune to that same downfall but, as I have recently discovered, it does not. Before casting judgement upon an individual with a mental disorder and saying that they do not belong in the BDSM community, take a look at these sexual-based mental disorders; and then consider where this places Y/you in the eyes of vanilla society. Paraphilia: Recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors generally involving non-human objects, the suffering or humiliation of oneself or one's partner, or children or other non-consenting persons. Exhibitionism: The recurrent urge or behavior to expose one's genitals to an unsuspecting person, or to perform sexual acts in a public place or in view of unsuspecting persons. * Flashing: The display of bare breasts by a woman with an up-and-down lifting of the shirt and/or bra, or a man exposing and/or stroking his genitals. * Mooning: The display of one's bare buttocks by pulling down trousers and underwear. * Anasyrma: Lifting up one's skirt with no underwear underneath to expose bare genitals. * Martymachlia: sexual attraction to having others watch the execution of a sexual act. Fetishism: The use of inanimate objects to gain sexual excitement. Partialism refers to fetishes specifically involving non-sexual parts of the body. Frotteurism: The recurrent urges or behavior of touching or rubbing against a non-consenting person. Pedophilia: A psychological disorder in which an adult experiences a sexual preference for pre-pubescent children or has engaged in child sexual abuse. Age play is often mistaken for this disorder. Sexual Masochism: The recurrent urge or behavior of wanting to be humiliated, beaten, bound, or otherwise made to suffer for sexual pleasure. Sexual Sadism: The recurrent urge or behavior involving acts in which the pain or humiliation of a person is sexually exciting. Transvestic Fetishism: Arousal from cloting associated with members of the opposite sex. Voyeurism: The recurrent urge or behavior to observe an unsuspecting person who is naked, disrobing, or engaging in sexual activities, or activities which may not be sexual in nature at all. Paraphilia NOS (not otherwise specified): * Partialism: exclusive focus on one part of the body * Telephone scatalogia: obscene phone calls * Necrophilia: corpses * Zoophilia: animals * Coprophilia: feces * Klismaphilia: enemas * Urophilia: urine * Emetophilia: vomit Gender Identity Disorder: Persons who experience significant gender dysphoria, or discontent with the biological sex they were born with. This includes transsexuality, transgender, and transvestism. This topic is open for discussion.
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BDSM & Mental Disorders: Therapy Or Threat?	Aug 3, 2009 6:30 am 75 Views
Do you think that BDSM can be therapeutic to someone diagnosed with a mental disorder, or will BDSM cause more damage? And are ALL people with mental disorders a threat to the BDSM community? In my opinion, there is no overall answer to those questions. I think it's dependant upon a number of things: 1 what type of disorder? 2 how stable is the individual? 3 what type of BDSM activity? 4 are they a willing participant? 5 is their partner(s) aware of the disorder? 6 has trust been established? 7 will the onset of trouble be recognized? 8 can serious and/or irreversible damage be avoided? I honestly believe that BDSM can be therapeutic to individuals diagnosed with some types of mental disorders, provided that all parties involved are equipped with the knowledge to recognize and cope with the onset of a troublesome situation (i.e. anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, oppositional attitude and behavior). Why do I believe this? Because I speak from personal experience! I have been diagnosed with various mood and behavioral disorders throughout my entire life, most of which I've spent going to one type of therapy or another. I've learned more through BDSM than I ever learned sitting in the psychiatrist's office... or maybe it's just that I understand and relate to it better. This topic is open for discussion.
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Mood Disorders: Dissociative	Aug 11, 2009 9:42 am 43 Views
Dissociative disorders (classified by the DSM as mood disorders) are conditions that involve disruptions or breakdowns of memory, awareness, identity, and/or perception. The hypothesis is that symptoms can result, to the extent of interfering with general functioning, when one or more of these functions is disrupted. This section will provide an in-depth look at diagnostic criteria, symptoms, causes, and treatment for the following: * Depersonalization disorder * Dissociative amnesia * Dissociative fugue * Dissociative identity disorder This topic is a work in progress. Please hold all comments until further notice.
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Mood Disorders: Somatoform	Aug 11, 2009 9:41 am 43 Views
Somatoform disorders (classified by the DSM as mood disorders) are psychological disorders characterized by physical symptoms that mimic disease or injury for which there is no identifiable physical cause or physical symptoms such as pain, nausea, depression, and diziness. People with these types of disorders are not faking their symptoms. The pain they feel is real. Somatoform disorders are not the result of conscious malingering or factitious disorders. This section will provide an in-depth look at diagnostic criteria, symptoms, causes, and treatment for the following: * Body dysmorphic disorder * Conversion disorder * Hypochondriasis * Pain disorder * Somatization disorder This topic is a work in progress. Please hold all comments until further notice.
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Mood Disorders: Depressive and Bipolar	Aug 11, 2009 9:39 am 49 Views
Mood disorder is the term given for a group of diagnoses where a disturbance in mood is hypothesized to be the main underlying feature. The two most broadly recognized groups are depressive disorders and bipolar disorder (formerly known as manic depression). This section will provide an in-depth look at diagnostic criteria, symptoms, causes, and treatment for the following: * Dysthymia * Major depressive disorder * Bipolar disorder * Cyclothymia After The Facts: My Personal Thoughts There it is again -- someone else deciding how happy and how sad a person should be. I think someone must have been very bored or very miserable within their own lives to have come up with this. Don't get me wrong -- I believe that depression exists, and that it is common and widespread. I don't believe people experiencing depression deserve to be called mentally unstable -- emotionally unstable I can understand. Instead of saying there is something wrong in their brain, ask what kind of crap they've been through in their lives -- were they abandoned? neglected? abused? Seems to me that they have a pretty damn good reason for having messed up emotions, and instead of labeling and ridiculing them why not show some compassion and emotional support? I think the one thing that really disturbs me the most is when I hear someone say "you're too happy -- you must be having a manic episode, go take your medication." And what about the people who take medication for depression, then when they become happy they are told that they're having a manic episode and some new med is pumped into them to make them less happy? I mean really, come on people, give me a break! Isn't that redundant? Leave happy alone and go bury your head in the sand if you're too scared to go out and doing something spontaneous and daring! As with personality disorders, the so-called "facts" behind this list of mood disorders is based primarily on guesswork. Where is the PROOF that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance? Why cover up the symptoms with medication; as opposed to prescribing therapy to discover and confront the underlying cause, following up with behavior modification to UNLEARN negative behaviors and thought patterns and REPLACE them with positive? The REAL fact is that happiness and sadness exist, and there is nothing anybody can do to change that -- EXCEPT the individual! Each and every one of us has to be held accountable for choices we make -- including changing the circumstances that are making us happy or sad! Don't tell me "it's easier said than done" -- because I already know -- I also know difficult does not equate impossible! If the medicine makes the symptoms easier to cope with, that is fine -- by all means, relieve your stress. But don't ignore the underlying causes -- confront them, overcome them, and get your life in order. Then guess what? You won't need the meds anymore! This topic is open for discussion.
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Personality Disorders	Aug 6, 2009 11:46 am 75 Views
A class of personality types which deviate from the contemporary expectations of a society. Inflexible and pervasive behavioral patterns often cause serious personal and social difficulties, as well as a general functional impairment. Rigid and ongoing patterns of feeling, thinking, and behavior are said to be caused by underlying belief systems, and these systems are referred to as fixed fantasies or "dysfunctional schemata". This section will provide an in-depth look at diagnostic criteria, symptoms, causes, and treatment for the following: * Antisocial personality disorder * Avoidant personality disorder * Borderline personality disorder * Dependant personality disorder * Histrionic personality disorder * Narcissistic personality disorder * Obsessive-Compulsive personality disorder * Paranoid personality disorder * Schizoid personality disorder * Schizotypal personality disorder My Personal Thoughts Well folks, there they are... the "facts" on personality disorders. It looks like there are disorders for being too happy, too sad, too shy, too outgoing, feeling too good about yourself, not feeling good enough about yourself, being too independant, not being independant enough ... yadda yadda. Where is the middle ground? Who's image of perfection is being used as an example? Is there anything that's NOT been included in one of these "disorders"? Why is it based on possibilities? Why are these things not backed up with hard proof? I personally think that there are too many "if" and "why" questions surrounding most things listed here. Something else that I find very, very interesting... the fact that MOST personality disorders are (or MIGHT be) caused by environmental factors, childhood events, past relationships, etc. as opposed to a chemical defect in the brain. There are so many elements here that I believe CAN BE repaired via corrective methods ... which, if I'm not mistaken, is that happens in D/s relationships... yes? This topic is open for discussion.
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Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR)	Aug 3, 2009 6:35 am 116 Views
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, Text Revision, also known as DSM-IV-TR, is a manual published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) that includes all currently recognized mental health disorders. Disorders usually first diagnosed in infancy, childhood, or adolescence Mental retardation Mild mental retardation Moderate mental retardation Severe mental retardation Profound mental retardation Mental retardation, severity unspecified Learning disorders Reading disorder Mathematics disorder Disorder of written expression Learning disorder NOS Motor skills disorders Developmental coordination disorder Communication disorders Expressive language disorder Mixed receptive-expressive language disorder Phonological disorder Stuttering Communication disorder NOS Pervasive developmental disorders Autistic disorder Rett's Disorder Childhood Disintegrative Disorder Asperger's Disorder Pervasive Developmental Disorder NOS Attention-deficit and disruptive behavior disorders Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Conduct disorder Oppositional Defiant Disorder Disruptive Behavior Disorder NOS Feeding and eating disorders of infancy or early childhood Pica Feeding disorder of infancy or early childhood Tic disorders Tourette's Disorder Chronic motor or vocal tic disorder Transient tic disorder Tic disorder NOS Elimination disorders Encopresis Enuresis Other disorders of infancy, childhood, or adolescence Separation anxiety disorder Selective mutism Reactive attachment disorder of infancy or early childhood Stereotypic movement disorder Disorder of infancy, childhood, or adolescence NOS Delirium, dementia, and amnestic and other cognitive disorders Delirium Delirium due to (indicate general medical condition) Delirium NOS Dementia Dementia due to Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Dementia due to head trauma Dementia due to HIV disease Dementia due to Huntington's disease Dementia due to Parkinson's disease Dementia due to Pick's disease Dementia due to (indicate other general medical condition) Dementia NOS Dementia of the Alzheimer's Type with early onset Dementia of the Alzheimer's Type with late onset Vascular dementia Amnestic disorders Amnestic disorder due to (indicate general medical condition) Amnestic disorder NOS Other cognitive disorders Cognitive disorder NOS Mental disorders due to a general medical condition not elsewhere classified Catatonic disorder due to (indicate general medical condition) Personality change due to (indicate general medical condition) Mental disorder NOS due to (indicate general medical condition) Substance-related disorders Alcohol-related disorders Abuse Dependence Induced anxiety disorder Induced mood disorder Induced persisting amnestic disorder Induced persisting dementia Induced psychotic disorder with delusions Induced psychotic disorder with hallucinations Induced sexual dysfunction Induced sleep disorder Intoxication Intoxication delirium Related disorder NOS Withdrawal Withdrawal delirium Amphetamine (or amphetamine-like) related disorders Abuse Dependence Induced anxiety disorder Induced mood disorder Induced psychotic disorder with delusions Induced psychotic disorder with hallucinations Induced sexual dysfunction Induced sleep disorder Intoxication Intoxication delirium Related disorder NOS Withdrawal Caffeine-related disorders Induced anxiety disorder Induced sleep disorder Intoxication Related disorders NOS Cannabis-related disorders Abuse Dependence Induced anxiety disorder Induced psychotic disorder with delusions Induced psychotic disorder with hallucinations Intoxication Intoxication delirium Related disorder NOS Cocaine-related disorders Abuse Dependence Induced anxiety disorder Induced mood disorder Induced psychotic disorder with delusions Induced psychotic disorder with hallucinations Induced sexual dysfunction Induced sleep disorder Intoxication Intoxication delirium Related disorder NOS Withdrawal Hallucinogen-related disorders Abuse Dependence Induced anxiety disorder Induced mood disorder Induced psychotic disorder with delusions Induced psychotic disorder with hallucinations Intoxication Intoxication delirium persisting perception disorder Related disorder NOS Inhalant-related disorders Abuse Dependence Induced anxiety disorder Induced mood disorder Induced persisting dementia Induced psychotic disorder with delusions Induced psychotic disorder with hallucinations Intoxication Intoxication delirium Related disorder NOS Nicotine-related disorders Dependence Related disorder NOS Withdrawal Opioid-related disorders Abuse Dependence Induced mood disorder Induced psychotic disorder with delusions Induced psychotic disorder with hallucinations Induced sexual dysfunction Induced sleep disorder Intoxication Intoxication delirium Related disorder NOS Withdrawal Phencyclidine (or phencyclidine-like) related disorders Abuse Dependence Induced anxiety disorder Induced mood disorder Induced persisting dementia Induced psychotic disorder with delusions Induced psychotic disorder with hallucinations Intoxication Intoxication delirium Related disorder NOS Sedative-, hypnotic-, or anxiolytic-related disorders Abuse Dependence Induced anxiety disorder Induced mood disorder Induced persisting amnestic disorder Induced persisting dementia Induced psychotic disorder with delusions Induced psychotic disorder with hallucinations Induced sexual dysfunction Induced sleep disorder Intoxication Intoxication delirium Related disorder NOS Withdrawal Withdrawal delirium Polysubstance-related disorder Polysubstance dependence Other (or unknown) substance-related disorder Abuse Dependence Induced anxiety disorder Induced delirium Induced mood disorder Induced persisting amnestic disorder Induced persisting dementia Induced psychotic disorder with delusions Induced psychotic disorder with hallucinations Induced sexual dysfunction Induced sleep disorder Intoxication Related disorder NOS Withdrawal Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders Schizophrenia Catatonic type Disorganized type Paranoid type Residual type Undifferentiated type Schizophreniform disorder Schizoaffective disorder Delusional disorder Brief psychotic disorder Shared psychotic disorder Psychotic disorder due to (indicate general medical condition) With delusions With hallucinations Psychotic disorder NOS Mood disorders Depressive disorders Dysthmic disorder Major depressive disorder Depressive disorder NOS Bipolar disorders Bipolar disorder NOS Bipolar I disorder Bipolar II disorder Cyclothymic disorder Mood disorder Mood disorder due to (indicate general medical condition) Mood disorder NOS Anxiety disorders Generalized anxiety disorder Panic disorder Agoraphobia without history of panic disorder Specific phobia Social phobia Obsessive-compulsive disorder Post-traumatic stress disorder Acute stress disorder Anxeiety disorder Somatoform disorders Somatization disorder Undifferentiated somatoform disorder Conversion disorder Pain disorder Hypochondriasis Body dysmorphic disorder Somatoform disorder NOS Factitious disorders Dissociative disorders Depersonalization disorder Dissociative amnesia Dissociative fugue Dissociative identity disorder Dissociative disorder NOS Sexual and gender identity disorder Sexual dysfunctions Female hypoactive sexual desire disorder due to (indicate general medical condition) Male hypoactive sexual desire disorder due to (indicate general medical condition) Hypoactive sexual desire disorder Sexual aversion disorder Female sexual arousal disorder Male erectile disorder Male erectile disorder due to (indicate general medical condition) Female orgasmic disorder Male orgasmic disorder Premature ejaculation Dyspareunia (not due to a general medical condition) Female dyspareunia due to (indicate general medical condition) Male dyspareunia due to (indicate general medical condition) Vaginismus (not due to general medical condition) Other female sexual dysfunction due to (indicate general medical condition) Other male sexual dysfunction due to (indicate general medical condition) Sexual Abuse Sexual disorder NOS Sexual dysfunction NOS Paraphilias Exhibitionism Fetishism Frotteurism Pedophilia Sexual masochism Sexual sadism Transvestic fetishism Voyeurism Paraphilia NOS Gender identity disorders Eating disorders Anorexia nervosa Bulimia nervosa Rumination syndrome Eating disorder not otherwise specified Sleep disorders Primary sleep disorders Primary hypersomnia Primary insomnia Narcolepsy Breathing-related sleep disorder Circadian rhythm sleep disorder Dyssomnia NOS Parasomnias Nightmare disorder Sleep terror disorder Sleepwalking disorder Parasomnia NOS Other sleep disorders Sleep disorder Insomnia related to (indicate Axis I or Axis II disorder) Hypersomnia related to (indicate Axis I or Axis II disorder) Impulse-control disorders not elsewhere classified Intermittent explosive disorder Kleptomania Pyromania Pathological gambling Trichotillomania Impulse-control disorder NOS Adjustment disorders Adjustment disorders Unspecified With anxiety With depressed mood With disturbance of conduct With mixed anxiety and depressed mood With mixed disturbance of emotions and conduct Personality disorders Cluster A odd or eccentric Paranoid personality disorder Schizoid personality disorder Schizotypal personality disorder Cluster B dramatic, emotional, or erratic Antisocial personality disorder Borderline personality disorder Histrionic personality disorder Narcissistic personality disorder Cluster C anxious or fearful Avoidant personality disorder Dependent personality disorder Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder NOS Personality disorder NOS This is a "read only" topic.
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The Submissives Creed	Jun 24, 2009 9:23 am 131 Views
The Submissive's Creed author unknown I will communicate with complete honesty my needs, desires, limits, and experience. I realize that failing to do so will not only prevent Him and I from having the best experience possible, but can also lead to physical and emotional harm. I will not try to manipulate Him. I will not push to make a scene go the way I think it should. In other words, I will not Top from the bottom. I will keep an open mind about trying things that I am not comfortable with and expanding my limits. I will continue to grow as a submissive and as a human being. I will accept the responsibility of discovering what pleases Him, and will do my best to fulfill His wishes and desires. I will not allow myself to be harmed or abused. I know that submissive does not equal doormat. I will be courteous and helpful to my fellow submissives. I will share my knowledge and experience with others in the hope that they will learn and benefit from where I have been. I will take the time to help those new to the scene start out on the correct path. I will be responsive to Him. I will not try to hide what my mind and body are feeling so that I may assist Him in His responsibility as my authority. I know that Dominants are not telepaths, and will not expect Him to know thoughts or feelings which I do not share. I will accept in the responsibility of a scene or relationship gone bad. I will not place the total blame on Him when it is not warranted simply because He is the Dominant. I realize the things may not work out as they should at times and will do my best to put it behind me and move on. I will give my gift of submission only to Those that can responsibly accept and desire to receive. I will not place anyone in the position of Topping me non-consensually, nor will I give my respect to someone that has not earned it. I know that D/s is not a contest and will never think myself a "better" submissive because I choose to submit on a different level than another. I will not be boastful of the experiences I have had as a bottom. I will be obediant to Him even if I disagree with what He is requesting. I realize that He has my best interest at heart and often knows better than I what I need in a particular situation. I know that my actions reflect upon Him, and will do my best to help others see Him in a positive way. I will not intentionally embarrass or displease Him. Above all I wear my title of submissive with honor. I will never cause O/others to think that being submissive means to be weak or sub-human. I will take pride in who and what I am and will never show myself in a negative way. This topic is open for discussion.
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