Healing BDSM?

[just_ine]

I heard this question asked recently: Do you believe that the practise of BDSM could bring about emotional healing from e.g. past trauma?

I want to add 3 questions: does the practise of BDSM help or hinder you in any way in your vanilla life?

In which way?

And which part of BDSM?

[Echoes]

BDSM helped me face a few fears under a controlled setting and I have no doubt it can do a lot more if the trust, communication and relationship is really there.
an example would be if someone raising a hand to you...advancing to face slapping although not hard. Harder would take a lot more time and cross the threshold to becoming part of a power play. I can see it.
Unfortunately I cannot answer your other questions.
~echoes~

[Solis]

Does "coherence" count as a benefit, dear?

I think that, in some ways, accepting the label "Dom" helped me begin to explain myself, to me. It facilitates a reconciliation within, which led to a feeling of peace, then coherence, then effectiveness.

S.

[just_ine]

Thank You for your answers.
I would agree with Solis that it is a way of explaining myself. (Being a subbie, that is)

To me the structure inside a D/s relationship was very healing. Not in the beginning of my journey and certainly not up until 15 months ago but the tastes I had up until then hinted at the possiblity of healing.

I found the strict limits and protocol helped me feel safe and secure. It helped my mind to quiten down, knowing there are certain things I don't need to worry about or control. (Read: manipulate).

Before BDSM I had no outlet except making music, then I lost that and had no impetus to find a way around that.
Then I found pain gave me a way to work through stress and my focus on something that was supposed to be healing, became a negative. It was only since finding my 'Him' that pain and my need for it also became controlled and it turned back into a positive.

[Echoes]

Did you panic at giving up a tiny bit of control?

[ickleimi]

I've used it to manage self harming behaviours for years

[chipmunk_]

I've used it to manage self harming behaviours for years

A friend of mine did this, too, and found it to be very effective.