This one is going to be difficult to articulate but try and bear with me.
I don’t know whether any other Dopers experience this sensation. It occurs when I am in a relaxed state, usually sitting down. I presume that it is not sexual sensation as it occurs with both men and women but Freud would have probably had a lot to say about it.
I don’t recall there ever being more than one other person involved but I can’t see why it wouldn’t be possible. It is probably best described as occuring when the other person is doing something for me. Again that sounds sexual but it isn’t. It may be that they are writing down a list, composing an email, setting up something for me to see etc. I don’t have to actually be able to see the person, I just have to be aware that they are concentrating on something else that I will later become aware of.
The important thing is that I have to be still, relaxed and silent (the other person just has to be silent). The event must go on for a minumum period of time so simply shuffling a pack of cards or writing down a phone number is not enough. I would say that it has to last for about thirty seconds. After this period of time, a strange, warm, tingling sensation starts to spread across my body from my neck and spine. Strange, eh? I am pretty normal physically and mentally in most other respects. Anyone have any explanation or a name for this occurance? I sometimes will contrive a situation just to get this sensation.
Are you sitting in a way that restricts blood flow?
Have you been using Denorex shampoo on your entire body?
Seriously, I don’t know what’s going on. On very rare occasions I’ll get that tingle watching a movie, usually when some surprise plot twist is making everything come together and I think “that’s what’s going on.” How do you feel when this happens, other than relaxed and pleasantly tingly? What kind of thoughts are going through your head?
Man, it’s an all-evening project to post a reply nowadays. I hope it’s worth it.
Anyway, I dunno what it is, but it sounds familiar. It’s difficult to describe, but I get the same sort of feeling when I’m wording some kind of “diplomatic” message that I know the receiving party will be happy with – you know, everything perfectly clear and explained, everything reasonable, offering a compromise, etc.
I haven’t really thought about it much before, and it’s never occurred to me to wonder whether it happens to anyone else. Maybe it’s some general “happy human socialization” buzz.
Sounds like a relative of the so-called “pee shivers”. I have occasional '“pee shivers”, but more often have that sort of feeling when I’ve been doing something, I’m tired, and I finally get in bed and sit still for a bit.
I’ve never heard of it being connected to a purely psychological experience, but they’re all connected in that they’re all positive experiences.
I know what your talking about.
Like ** Jinwicked** I get it when my hair is being brushed. But it doesn’t stop there. It DOES happen when someone is doing something for me. I know the back of my head tingles when it happens too. And I get reallllllllly sleepy.
I used to feel something much like that sometimes when I was in a relaxed state and someone was touching me.
I remember it happening often during those trust exercises in which one person leads a blindfolded person around. I could close my eyes and just listen and feel his/her hand on my arm and get all tingly.
I also used to get it when someone brushed my hair… but only for a long time. Alas, I no longer have long hair that girls like to brush.
I know exactly what you’re talking about. Ignore the boneheads above.
The feelings that I experience (and unfortunately I haven’t experienced it in a long, long time) happen when someone is showing me affection (but not sexually in any way) or otherwise concentrating on something for ME.
And they must be physically close…say within 20 feet?
Brushing of the hair is right on. Also, cutting hair would result in this feeling (although I had my hair cut last night and didn’t feel anything…you have to be in the mood?). At the fire dept we were tailored for precise-fit fire gear several months ago. I experienced it then when I was fitted.
I experienced it a lot in high school when many of my peers (male and female) were nearby conducting things specifically for me. Again, none of this is sexual.
I have never received this feeling from parents or other relatives. They always have to be either friends (my age) or strangers.
Anyhow, the sensations seem pretty accurate to you, bmerton. A tensed-up, tingling feeling down the arms, back, neck, sometime legs?
I seriously think it deals with affection somehow. Or at least unbridled concentration on specifically me.
I don’t think this has anything to do with pee shiver…which I also experience.
Yeah, Ive experienced that same feeling, in exactly the circumstances you describe, ever since childhood. Its an incredibly pleasant sensation, whenever I get it I just want to wallow in it and not have the moment end. As you say, its not sexual, but can be just as overpowering. Ive noticed that you don`t get it with loved ones, or very close friends. Whatever it is, I like it!
For me, this is extremely pleasurable. Relaxation is key. The sensation happens when someone is doing something for me, like sketching my profile, or when I feel very light contact on my skin, especially my neck and head. It often happens when I get goosebumps, like when hearing inspirational speeches or realizing the ending to a movie or book. Unfortunately, I find it impossible to give myself the sensation, however I have experienced it without the involvement of another person. It doesn’t even have to be skin to skin- someone can use an object to lightly brush the back of my neck and I am in bliss. It feels like my hair is standing on end, like with goosebumps, but I have experienced this tingling and goosebumps separately. I have always considered this feeling to be comparably pleasurable to orgasm, but in an entirely different, non-sexual way.
Yes. The sketching of one’s profile (as in, mine) would probably do it instantly. And you’re right, it cannot be self-inflicted. Like when you can’t tickle yourself.
It feels great, and I probably wouldn’t want it to end, but I don’t think it’s as good as an orgasm.
I have gotten this sensation when singing in a choir that is really good. I don’t know how to explain this - the intensity of 30 people all focusing on the same thing and just nailing it is pretty great.
I also get a tingly feeling in my nose when flirting with someone I’m very attracted to. It seems related.
For me, it usually means that my Spider Senses are going wild and I will soon have to battle evil. Or, I am having my portrait sketched by JFMichael, which is always orgasmic.
I first experienced this symptomology in second grade, when my teacher kid borrowed something from me in class and I felt honored because of it. (Go figure.) In later years, I attributed it to an acute stimulation of the adrenal glands, causing a release of adrenaline due to over-stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system.
In other words, I have no clue what it is.
But it does feel like a low level electrical current is passing through me. It’s a warm, tingling sensation.
I started a thread about this very thing about three years ago. JFMichael has the description nailed. For some reason I’m unable to find it. IIRC, the exact causes of the sensation were never really explained. Maybe this is one for Cecil.
So, does anyone want to draw my profile while I watch?
