# "Shocking" yourself **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 5, 2003, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocking-yourself/146798 "2003-01-05T18:47:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fuel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Fuel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuel)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocking-yourself/146798/1 "2003-01-05T18:47:26Z")
ok, this is really hard to explain. i can kind of “shock” myself by "freezing’ myself up. it’s sort of like shooting adrenaline through your veins on command, but i know that’s probably not what’s going on. it kind of paralyzes me when i do it, and i feel that maybe i am messing with my central nervous system somehow. i get the feeling all over my body, but it sort of originates in my core, inside my ribcage/stomach area. does anybody know what i am talking about? what am i doing to myself?? there is absolutely no way to describe how i initiate this or what it feels like, i just can do it whenever i want and lit eaves me a little weak right after. no permanent damage obviously. it would be so cool to know what this is… i have wondered this since i was a little kid. only my dad knows what i am talking about, and even he describes it a little different. ---
**Author:** ![hobbes730](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/97f17d/32.png) [@hobbes730](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hobbes730)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocking-yourself/146798/2 "2003-01-05T18:54:40Z")
I can sort of relate; I get the same sort of feeling every now and then, although I can’t do it on command. It’s really sort of random. I’ve been told it could be a “benign” form of epilepsy. Perhaps it would be best to consult a doctor about it though… ---
**Author:** ![RyanD004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/848f3c/32.png) [@RyanD004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyanD004)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocking-yourself/146798/3 "2003-01-05T19:55:57Z")
I think I may have a similar feeling. I wouldn’t describe it as a shock though. It’s kind of like an energy that sends a sort of shiver through my body. For me, it starts in the ‘core area’ too and moves out. It doesn’t hurt or seem dangerous in any way. I’ve never really talked about it; its difficult to describe. ---
**Author:** ![Orange\_Skinner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3be4f8/32.png) [@Orange\_Skinner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orange_Skinner)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocking-yourself/146798/4 "2003-01-05T20:31:01Z")
I know what you’re talking about. I can’t do it at will, exactly, but sometimes I can tell that if I work at it I can make myself have one. No idea what it is though…my mother thought it might be a mild form of Tourette’s (sp?) Syndrome. ---
**Author:** ![RyanD004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/848f3c/32.png) [@RyanD004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyanD004)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocking-yourself/146798/5 "2003-01-05T20:38:19Z")
Hmm… interesting… so now it’s possible that I have some sort of latent disease or disorder. Or… maybe the government experiemented on all of us as children and fed us super soldier formula instead of milk. So in reality… this is super charged energy that allows us to do incredible deeds. Eh… too good to be true. ---
**Author:** ![BioHazard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3bc359/32.png) [@BioHazard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BioHazard)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocking-yourself/146798/6 "2003-01-05T21:16:31Z")
Sounds to me like an Anxiety Attack, I get those alot. ---
**Author:** ![Fuel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Fuel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuel)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocking-yourself/146798/7 "2003-01-05T22:32:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RyanD004 \* > \*\*I think I may have a similar feeling. I wouldn’t describe it as a shock though. It’s kind of like an energy that sends a sort of shiver through my body. \*\* yeah, that’s a good way to describe it. i can’t imagine it being a benign disease! it’s just something i can do to myself. however, i feel like if i did it all day everyday that it might actually hurt me. it doesn’t necessarily feel healthy, but i doubt it could be a disease. anybody else? this is really an interesting, odd thing. what is chemically happening and can anybody do this? there has got to be a name for this… ---
**Author:** ![hobbes730](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/97f17d/32.png) [@hobbes730](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hobbes730)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocking-yourself/146798/8 "2003-01-05T22:48:01Z")
> [@](#): > > Hmm… interesting… so now it’s possible that I have some sort of latent disease or disorder. Well not exactly. It’s a _mild form_ of epilepsy - not even that really. I’m sure there’s some proper word for it, I just don’t know what it is. But it’s not **actually** epilepsy. It falls into the same category as “sleep starts” - you know, when you’re just about to fall asleep, and all of a sudden your body will jerk or tense up for no reason. Same sort of thing. It happens to everybody. **It’s not a disease** 🙂 IANAE though…surely there’s someone out there who knows more about this than I do? ---
**Author:** ![bbeaty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c0e974/32.png) [@bbeaty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbeaty)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocking-yourself/146798/9 "2003-01-06T03:21:26Z")
You’re not talking about “the creeps”, are you? The willies? Full-body goosebumps? When I do this intentionally (like right now!), I feel itching/tingling all over my entire skin surface, then I can’t help but wiggle my arms and legs to “shake it off.” After doing it once, I can’t do it again for about 10 minutes. This feels somewhat like that feeling you get inside your nose just before you sneeze… but it’s all over your body. Now that you mention it, the “wave” does seem to start on my chest and in the middle of my back, then spread outward to my arms & legs. As far as I know, this is just goosebumps. It happens to me spontaneously when stepping out of a hot bathroom into the icy cold hallway. Or when scraping my fingernails on the hood of an old car. Yeesh. PS Goosebumps drive those skin-electrode biofeedback meters crazy. Strap on one of those meters, then visualize cold water being sprayed on your neck, and the meter needle goes ‘whack’ to the top of its range. ---
**Author:** ![Fuel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Fuel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuel)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocking-yourself/146798/10 "2003-01-06T04:08:05Z")
you can give yourself goosebumps??? bbeaty, that is not what i am talking about. nothing involving skin here. it’s all inside, pretty much away from the skin. ---
**Author:** ![BioHazard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3bc359/32.png) [@BioHazard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BioHazard)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocking-yourself/146798/11 "2003-01-06T16:39:57Z")
I still think it is a mild panic attack: > **[WebMD - Better information. Better health.](https://www.webmd.com)** > > The leading source for trustworthy and timely health and medical news and information. Providing credible health information, supportive community, and educational services by blending award-winning expertise in content, community services, expert... Paraphrased: > [@](#): > > Pounding heart or chest pain. (If you have chest pain and other symptoms of a heart attack, Choking feeling, > Lightheadedness, Dizziness, shaking, or trembling. > Numbness or tingling. But what your are describing is what happens to me just before a Panic Attack. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocking-yourself/146798/12 "2003-01-06T18:17:15Z")
I can do this too!! On command. And it`s over in less than a second, but I can make it last longer if I want. It just looses some of the allure if you drag it out to long. It sort of feels like a very small, short orgasm. If I do it too long I feel like I could loose control of my bladder or get light headed. I have no idea how I can do it I just know I can. Also, my eyes go slighlty out of focus when it happens. What the hell is this?? ---
**Author:** ![Fuel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Fuel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuel)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocking-yourself/146798/13 "2003-01-06T23:42:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by whuckfistle \* > \*\*I can do this too!! > > On command. And it`s over in less than a second, but I can make it last longer if I want. It just looses some of the allure if you drag it out to long. It sort of feels like a very small, short orgasm. If I do it too long I feel like I could loose control of my bladder or get light headed. I have no idea how I can do it I just know I can. > > Also, my eyes go slighlty out of focus when it happens. > > What the hell is this?? \*\* yes! that’s it! my eyes go very very slightly out of focus when i do it. i would NOT call it an orgasm though… it doesn’t feel good at all, but i could see how you would say that, it’s like an orgasm without the good feeling, and all over your body. everything you said was what i feel. finally somebody who understands! someone, anyone. what is this? is it bad? i’m not gonna let this thread go away until someone says something!! Biohazard: maybe it’s a simulation of an anxiety attack? also, there are NONE of those symptoms you mentioned. it is not what you are talking about…next ---
**Author:** ![RyanD004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/848f3c/32.png) [@RyanD004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyanD004)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocking-yourself/146798/14 "2003-01-06T23:59:42Z")
Definately not an anxiety attack. My eyes kinda go out of focus too… but I think I can keep them from doing so. And it doesn’t quite feel like an oergasm either. At least not like what I associate with an orgasm. It is also definately not goosebumps. No hairs raise on my arms when I do it. The more I try and take control of my body while it happens, the less I feel it. Howver, don’t get the idea like I’m out of control… like in a seizure. Whatever it is, it’s something I can do by command and stop by command. I think it would be quite interesting to find out exactly what is gonig on. Hmm… I’m going to have to agree that doing it too much is bad. I just did it like… 20 times and had a sort of… not good feeling. It’s not like it’s in my heart… or my lungs exactly. More of in between. Before anyone asks… it has no similarity to heartburn. ---
**Author:** ![Fuel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Fuel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuel)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocking-yourself/146798/15 "2003-01-08T04:40:17Z")
bump ---
**Author:** ![Soca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@Soca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soca)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocking-yourself/146798/16 "2003-01-08T05:38:07Z")
I can do it on command as well. To me, it feels more like it’s coming from my lower spine and going into my upper body. I’ve never done it for more than a few seconds, it seems like it would be bad for you for some reason. I’ve never experienced the feeling without intentionally triggering it. ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocking-yourself/146798/17 "2003-01-08T06:18:13Z")
I dont know if this is the same thing, but I used to do it to stay awake in lectures. Cheaper than coffee :). Wears off in about 15 mins though and you become desensitised with more hits. It is adrenaline. I havent had an anxiety attack, but I presume it is like a minor, acute controlled attack. It is the feeling you get before performing in front of an audience. Is this the same with you **fuel**? ---
**Author:** ![Conti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@Conti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Conti)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocking-yourself/146798/18 "2003-01-08T06:43:17Z")
I can do the same thing. By kind of relaxing something, i’m not even quite sure what i’m relaxing, but it seems to make adrenaline shoot through my body. It is the same kind of feeling you get before a fight or right before the winning lottery numbers are announced or when your favorite basketball team scores on a last second shot. I think what you are doing is releasing adrenaline, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Conti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@Conti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Conti)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocking-yourself/146798/19 "2003-01-08T06:47:15Z")
Oh and thanks a lot. Now that i’ve tried this all over again, my heart is pumping like i’ve been in a 5 mile race, and I am wide awake and unable to goto sleep! LOL ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocking-yourself/146798/20 "2003-01-08T13:41:59Z")
Interesting, What are the bio-mechanics behind this? There should be someone out there who can answer this. Cecil?? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shocking-yourself/146798.md?page=2)