Breath control

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Breath control through gas mask and damp chamois leather

Breath control (also asphyxiophilia , breath control play or erotic asphyxiation ) is a sexual practice from the field of BDSM . Here the breathing of the passive partner ( bottom ) is either made more difficult or completely prevented for short periods of time. This practice is one of the most dangerous and extreme BDSM practices. Whether it is still in the area of ​​the SSC concept (safe, sane, consensual) is partly controversial within the subculture.

This form of breathing restriction must be distinguished from that in competitive sports, see training mask .

effect

Restricted breathing causes a subjective feeling of oppression in the bottom and thus intensifies the situation of being at the mercy, which is perceived as erotic. Lens there is an inadequate supply of oxygen and increase in carbon dioxide content of the blood, with the increase of the carbon dioxide is the essential aspect as rapidly experience dizziness sets. In addition, the release of adrenaline is stimulated. Different reactions can be generated by different breathing techniques of the bottom; For example, calm and deep breathing in and out helps to combat panic and nausea as well as control of the increasingly stronger breathing stimulus, which means that the procedure can be endured for a long time and a correspondingly large oxygen debt arises.

Practices and Dangers

Technically, breathing can be controlled without further aids simply by holding your mouth and nose closed. Everyday objects such as plastic bags , moistened fabrics or chamois leather are just as possible as professional equipment from the BDSM area; are conceivable z. B. gas or latex masks but also inflatable mouth gags or hoods. Depending on the technology used, there is then a more or less large air reservoir that determines whether and how quickly an oxygen deficiency can develop. In the case of a rapid and complete blockage of the airways by holding your mouth shut, using a tight gag or putting a tight bag over it, the subjective fear and the effect of the stress hormones usually predominate. Both of these subside immediately when the blockage is released - however, total blocking carries the risk of lung damage if it collapses. A large reservoir such as a wide bag or a gas mask with a breathing tube allows the bottom to continue breathing apparently calmly and thus a slow increase in the CO 2 content with a relevant decrease in the oxygen content with a lasting effect even after the breathing restriction has been released. In particular, there is an increasing oxygen debt in the whole body due to acidification of the muscles - especially when Bottom has been fighting for a long time.

Another possibility to indirectly restrict breathing is to restrict the movement of the upper body and thus reduce the possible depth of breath. This can be done passively, for example, through a corset , breast bondage or through certain positions of the bottom. An active method consists in partially or completely loading the lying and fixed bottom with the weight of the active partner ( top ) by sitting or lying on the upper body of the fixed bottom.

An extremely risky possibility is to act on the neck by choking, hanging or throttling. In addition to the creation of shortness of breath, consciously or unconsciously, the blood supply to the brain is often restricted, which u. a. a carotid sinus reflex can be triggered. See also the article choke game .

Immersion in water is another variant; It must be noted that the bottom can suffer damage to health through possible inhalation of water . The conscious inhalation of gases, such as B. helium or nitrous oxide is another variant.

Security

In connection with such extremely dangerous practices, appropriate knowledge of the underlying anatomical and physiological conditions, but also of the possible psychological reactions of the bottom, such as coughing or panic attacks, is essential. Another important point is compliance with some security requirements, e.g. B. the active partner should inform himself about the condition of the bottom before the breath control, respiratory diseases such as bronchial asthma or COPD should be clarified, telephone numbers for emergencies, first aid measures etc. should be familiar to him. The bottom should be able to give an accurate self-assessment and also discuss any known psychological reactions to be expected with his top.

From a safety point of view, self-bondage in connection with breath control is extremely problematic and highly dangerous; because one of the essential basic rules of bondage and breath control, "never leave the person alone", is violated from the start. The desire to intensify the orgasm through the lack of oxygen has in the past repeatedly led to deaths . For example, the death of actor David Carradine is attributed to it.

Legal treatment

As with other BDSM practices, the criminal and civil law classification is inconsistent. Basically, courts affirm the possibility that a person can give their consent to dangerous practices and thus non-criminal liability is given. However, there were also a number of judgments which classified individual acts as immoral and saw complicity - especially in the case of life-threatening practices and if the agent was able to recognize the basic risk or it can be assumed that the agreed amount was exceeded. This also applies if it was evident that the person concerned could not express his or her will himself, e.g. B. in the case of mental disorders or suicide risk - or if the agent acted negligently.

In 2016, a 29-year-old prostitute was sentenced in Vienna to a conditional prison sentence - milder than the penalty framework - for deliberate aggravated bodily harm resulting in death. Her 45-year-old customer suffocated after she tied his neck with a shoelace as agreed. The man only had experience with breathing reduction performed on his own; this practice was new to the woman.

literature

  • Bill Henkin, S. Holiday: Consensual Sadomasochism. How to Talk about it and how to Do it Safely . Daedalus, San Francisco 1996, ISBN 1-881943-12-7 , p. 211.
  • Patrick Califia-Rice: Sensuous Magic. A Guide to S / M for Adventurous Couples . Cleis Press, San Francisco 2001, ISBN 1-57344-130-9 , pp. 201-203.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Th. Sigrist, K. Meier and U. Zollinger: To the traumatic carotid sinus reflex death . Contributions to forensic medicine 47, 1989, pp. 257-266.
  2. ↑ Dominick J. Di Maio, Vincent JM Di Maio: Deaths Occurring Following the Application of Choke or Carotid Holds . In: Forensic Pathology . New York 1989.
  3. ↑ S. Sivaloganathan: Aqua-eroticum - A Case of Auto-Erotic Drowning . Medicine, Science and the Law 24 (4), 1984, pp. 300-302.
  4. ↑ Markus A. Rothschild, Volkmar Schneider: About two autoerotic accidents: Fatal nitrous oxide anesthesia and chest compression . Archiv für Kriminologie 200 3–4, 1997, pp. 65–72.
  5. ↑ F. Minyard: Wrapped to death. Unusual autoerotic death . American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology 6 (2), 1985, pp. 151-152.
  6. ^ RR Hazelwood et al .: Autoerotic Fatalities . Lexington Books, Lexington 1983.
  7. ^ R. Thibault, JD Spencer, FW Bishop, NS Hibler: An unusual autoerotic death asphyxia with an abdominal ligature . Journal of Forensic Sciences 29 (2), 1984, pp. 679-684.
  8. ^ Orloff, Brian: David Carradine Died of Accidental Asphyxiation . People, July 2, 2009, last accessed September 26, 2016.
  9. ^ David Carradine's Official Cause of Death was Asphyxiation . Inquisitr.com. July 2, 2009. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
  10. ↑ Fatal sex accident: Conditional prison sentence orf.at, September 26, 2016, accessed September 26, 2016.

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