#Subs_discuss on Austnet Monday, January 18, 1999 9pm EST ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ok everybody...get comfortable :) lol * vixen` snuggles back * des^and^dot gets comfy....but spares y'all the nude sprawl on the couch like she would at home :) welcome everyone ill just make you all aware of the channel rules before we begin Questions can be asked at any time during the discussion however due to time constraints it would be appreciated if personal experiences were not discussed, there will be time afterwards to do this Also the sub play that we all love so much should be kept to a minimum or preferably not displayed at all in channel If you have a question please indicate so by typing a ? and when you are asked to proceed please do so :) Hopefully we can limit the discussion to an hour to an hour and a half, as we know many of you have Master's or Mistress to attend to *grin* * vidette{CL} smiles...thanks totty ? SirRon{MzR}? lol * sara{X^L} smiles to totty um just testing it works...trust us lol * totty looks at SirRon{MzR} lol wb tigereyes hello all ok...welcome everyone...it's good to see so many here I thought about what focus i could use regarding the topic of abuse and bdsm. I could either look at bdsm relationships that become or are abusive, or i could look at the effect past abuse has on us in our current relationships or potential relationships. Based on last week's discussion, it seems that abusive history's are a common theme and something that we all deal with differently. Most of you seemed keen to discuss this further, so that's the direction i have taken. I know that it's an issue that many hold close to their hearts. It is something that can stir up great wells of emotion by simply being discussed. What i would therefore request is that we keep all questions and comments until after i have finished speaking. As a disclaimer, i don't profess to be an expert in this field at all. I have researched and listened to what people have to say. I do know about abuse having been abused sexually as a child...so i speak with some personal experience. In no way do i claim that my experience or the way i dealt with it is the same as anyone else. I understand and respect that we all deal with our own issues in our own way and i trust that we can all offer each other the same respect and understanding. Many of us have suffered some form of abuse in the past...be it mental, physical, verbal, domestic, sexual, childhood, incestual. Abuse comes in many guises. All abuse is destructive and leaves scars. In talking with submissives who have survived some form of abuse, we hear a similar theme, the past is influencing their present. They may be involved with a loving, caring person now but they keep experiencing difficulties because of past events and are stymied as to what to do when their behaviour begins to affect the relationship they share with their dominant. A few of the most common issues they deal with are unfounded fear, moodiness, withdrawing from their partner and inability to trust. Any one of these things is enough to stunt the growth of any relationship but are particularly deadly to one based on the D/s lifestyle. Some say abusees are drawn to SM. That the lifestyle goes hand in hand with abuse victims. Some say that...yes., BDSM -is- used, although informally, in the lives of some people who are in less than "ideal" states, mentally and emotionally. Especially in some abuse victims, many of whom have such disorders as DID (multiple personalities), they have a need to feel the abuse/punishment, since they equate that with the affection they received from their abuser(s), many of whom were also parents. They substitute BDSM for actual abuse, giving themselves the psychological "pain fix" they need. However, polls of people on alt.sex.bondage seem to indicate no particular pattern of abuse, and there have been very few, if any, scientific studies of the question. Some people see an increased correlation, but there is little actual evidence. evening all shhhhhhhh :) sorry i am late The effect of abuse by people we trust damages the integrity of the self and subsequently self-esteem. When abuse involves issues of trust it may result in either a total lack of trust or in a naive trusting too much. For example, incest, adult/child incest that is, may not feel bad when it actually happens. It may be a pleasant but confusing experience which only later results in shame. The possible results of child abuse that starts early and goes on for an extended period, are depression, compulsivity, substance abuse, inability to play, inability to interact, isolation, eating disorders, lack of intimacy, low self-esteem. Dealing with ghosts from the past can be difficult for both dominant and submissive. You're having a beautiful session of lovemaking or in the middle of a scene and without warning your blood turns to ice water. You don't know why it happened and neither does your partner. You're both left shocked by the sobs, screaming or sombre silence that occurred and the walls that have suddenly appeared between you have left you both feeling helpless. Maybe you honestly can't remember what triggered it off but you know it was connected to something that happened long ago. If this sounds familiar you just might be dealing with those apparitions that still haunt your life. Getting rid of them isn't always easy but it can be done if you're willing to work at it. It is important to develop some skills to overcome the past and its haunting spirits. everyone ok so far? * totty nods * `barak nods and smiles yes vidette yep? good :) yes I think before you even begin to share your thoughts with someone else, you need to do some soul-searching and make a decision to open up. Have it all clear in your head. It can be a very confusing and sometimes distorted apparition in your mind, especially if it's been buried for a long time. Once you've made the decision to share, the most important thing you need to begin is *communication*. You have to open your soul and pour out, in words, all the hurt, fear and anger that you've kept hidden away. Ghosts don't do well in the sunlight and in many cases simply bringing them out of the dark causes them to evaporate before your eyes. And in many cases, this is easier said than done. I know from my own experience, i became an expert at keeping a tight lid on the past. It took me many, many years of soul searching and building the courage to be able to tell *anyone* that my grandfather had sexually molested me for years as a child. i'm going to use my own experience here because i feel it's relevant to the point i make.... For many many years, i thought it was my fault... i let him do it. I can now see that keeping a lid on it for so long, caused me unbearable pain. For many years i didn't even know where the pain was coming from. I became very angry and lived my life in turmoil for a long time, which affected all those close to me. While it was locked away i couldn't do anything with it. It just sat there and festered. I couldn't bear to be touched by a man intimately. It felt like the hand of my grandfather. It got worse and worse until i couldn't stand sex at all...any form of intimacy was repulsive to me. I knew i couldn't live my life like that and i eventually learnt to let it go. I learnt to forgive him for what he did. I forgave him for his weakness, his stupidity and his selfishness. I let go of the bitterness and anger. That wasn't easy. Before you begin to share your thoughts with your partner, one idea is to agree on an emotional safeword before you begin to journey into the dark places. When you know that something is becoming too difficult to deal with, or the wrong buttons are being pushed...use your emotional safeword. Why getting it out in the open is transformative: You move through the shame and secrecy that keeps you isolated. You move through denial and acknowledge the truth of your abuse. You make it possible to get understanding and help. You get more in touch with your feelings. You get a chance to see your experience, and yourself, through the compassionate eyes of a supporter. You make space in relationships for the kind of intimacy that comes from honesty. You establish yourself as a person in the present who is dealing with the abuse in his/her past. You eventually feel proud and strong. In order to achieve that level of communication with your partner, you have to *trust*. Again, when that trust has been violated so deeply, it is difficult to find again. Expressing yourself openly with a caring partner in a loving relationship can secure a bond between lovers that is everlasting. A trusting relationship with your partner is paramount to your relationship. Establishing trust takes time and measures that earn the trust and respect of your lover. You learn to trust based on actions and consistency within the relationship. How this person conducts themselves helps you to establish trust that will eventually earn your respect. When you trust your lover you are trusting that he/she takes the time to consider your safety and well being. Planting those seeds of trust can yield some beautiful fruit. In order to learn to trust you have to put it into action. If you have a dominant who is trustworthy it's up to you to give them the trust they have shown they're worthy of. If they've encouraged you to hand them your burdens then you need to begin to loosen them from your back so they can be shared. You might grab them back ten times before you finally let go completely but you have to make a start or it will never happen. Why should we do this? One, it's important that your partner knows of any pyschological triggers. It will prevent needless anxiety on his part when something unexplained happens and they won't be eft wondering what they did to cause it. Two, trust is integral to any BDSM relationship you cannot submit totally if you don't trust. And thirdly, doing SM as part of a mutual, consensual relationship can be enormously affirming. SM can be a way to give yourself to your lover more deeply than you ever thought you could, and can give outlet to fantasies you never imagined could come true. This kind of active, dynamic self-expression can give a tremendous boost to the self-esteem and the psychological well-being of both partners. What should we say? Tell your dominant about your past and how it affects you. Let them know there are problems and how they manifest themselves. Face the ghosts that are lurking in the closet. Talk about the things that cause you to have flashbacks or what might have triggered an unpleasant episode. Together you can find what cause it and avoid it in the future. Don't expect them to be a mind reader and know when you're struggling with past hurts and disappointments. When things have calmed down, explain how they might have helped you overcome the obstacle you encountered so the next time they'll be able to lead you over or around it. Share as much of your past with your dominant as you feel you're able to do. Make it a continuing process in your relationship. You might not be able to drag it all out at once but in time you can learn to unburden a little at a time until there's nothing left to haunt you. Learn to accept yourself and acknowledge your worth and right to be happy. In order to love fully, you have to be capable of loving yourself. In order to give happiness, you have to be happy. In order to trust someone, you have to trust in yourself. In order to believe in tomorrow, you have to face yesterday and live for today. OK...that's just about it from me.... Apart from my own experiences, the above information was obtained from a number of sites on the net. If you are interested in learning more, contact me privately and I'll send you my list of resources. well done vidette{CL} :) Thanks for your time everyone. The floor is now open to discussion. thank you vidette{CL} ;)) thank you vidette{CL} :) thanks vidette{CL} thankyou vidette{CL} :) thans vidette{CL} does anyone have any questions? what happens tho if youre not in a D/s relationship and a casual player? * wee_foot{Y} wonders hmmm ok hmmmm...i'd be inclined to think you should steer away from things that are going to trigger something unpleasant that depends totty on whether you know what triggers you or not all becomes part of the initial negotiation that's true i guess tho there are some things we dont know about, its all risk management i guess yes...and you'll eventually find out your triggers whether you are prepared to take the risk sorry for having joined late but . . . if you know a certain act is going to bring up unpleasant memories then you should alert the Dom before playing that's ok cheekybren...the log is available if you want it that goes without question exactly if an act does bring unpleasant memories, and it was done in good faith, is it possible to stoip yourself being too upset ???? no i dont believe so what about the ghosts of emotional abuse, the triggers can be so vague its hard to explain it to anyone else i agree dee^ thats true dee there are things in my life that *no one* knows but eventually you can pinpoint them me too :( it can take quite some time to realise what might have triggered the reaction ..it is not always immediately apparent i believe we all know our limits...there are some things that just sit at the bottom and never see the light of day you dont have to tell all .. just that it is an unpleasant memory good point gypsy-rose you cannot know your real limits until you have had some play ... you know yourself what needs to be said...if it's something that is affecting you now...you should try and talk about it i meant emotional limits Sea...is that what you're talking about too? that too.... unless you have had some experience ..you do not have any idea what your reactions and feelings might be physical or emotional each time is different that can be true SeaMist :) but i do believe that you reach a point where you know wht will set off those memories if the memories are buried ..how can you do that ? i do too...and you know in yourself what you need to share to be fair to yourself and your partner they may be buried now SeaMist, but eventually they have to come out it takes a lot of soul searching when you start to deal with them, you know what the triggers are :) i know some people who cruise thru life not letting their past affect them yet for others it manifests itself in lots of different ways i believe everything effects us they might seem to be cruising but it displays itself in other areas BDSM seems to send us spiralling back into the past .. but dont you think that one day it will come back to haunt them vidette{CL} * totty agrees SeaMist i agree totty maybe because some aspects of BDSM could be seen (by others) as violent i do gypsy-rose...but i'm trying to see it from other points of view too :) that can be a positive thing i think where possible i will try and share but akkkkkkk scarey stuff of course vidette{CL} :) we seem to deal with the same problems until we find the answers yep we do dee^ over and over and over! i agree dee, but sometimes we dont find answers, we just learn to accept that these things happened to us and move on its called life :) you got it totty ;) i know myself...the same problems came up in every relationship i had they always will until you face them gypsy-rose, perhaps that is dealing with them, then ou can move on that's right sara{X^L} well said sara{X^L} true dee :) its just seems such a risk sometimes tho what are you at risk of totty? exposing ghosts i guess is the risk other people not understanding totty ?? it's amazing how much less threatening they are in the light but there are some that you don't really want to share with lots of ppl no gypsy-rose more that why bother, i dealt with that or this a long time ago of course cheekybren...of course this has been a hard exercise for me share with anyone let alone lots of ppl :) * totty hugs vidette{CL} thanks hon :) that is being evaise totty and only lets the problem manifest if you are still afraid of wxposing them totty.. then you have not dealt with them * totty ducks and weaves :)) lol totty hehehe * totty pulls a mask over her head look...she's a pro :) Know that one well too :) totty .. if we deal with the problems they wouldnt be a problem * SeaMist hugs vidette * totty grins thanks SeaMist :) what did you learn as you did the work for this vidette ? im just being the devils advocate here but sometimes the problem can be for other ppl dealing with it * totty hates being a victim i agree with that one cheekybren or appearing to be one * totty nod nods at cheekybren well a dominate accepts the whole sub...not just the fun play cheekbren i hope no one minds...but Rascally is going to join us its our perceptions of the problems and how we perceive other people will deal with them that is the problem hello Rascally :) sara{X^L} do you think that is the norm..with Doms? hi Rascally greetings Rascally no its not the norm hi i dont believe *all* dominants are like that sara can i throw a statement to you for your thoughts ? hi Rascally it should be..how else can a sub give themselves fully in tust if the Dom doesnt understand them Sea...going back to your question...i'm not sure *i* learnt anything new from it...most of these things i have dealt with myself. I'm ok with my past now. What was difficult about it, was sharing it so openly no they arent ..but they should try hmm..meanwhile here in the real world.. ;) *nods* go for it cheekybren i've got an issue which i know i haven't really dealt with and doubt if i ever will. as such i'm loathe to broach it with ANYONE * totty hugs cheekybren why have you not dealt with it ? does it affect your relationships cheekybren ? the reason this discussion has interested me, is I'm wondering how subs deal with abuse their doms may have encountered? yes it does and will. good question Rascally * totty listens very good question Rascally SeaMist, sometimes there are things which you don't deal with - you just cope :) Rascally...the topic hasn't come up...this has been specifically aimed at submissives...but it's a worthwhile topic for future discussion * gypsy-rose hugs cheekybren .. you have to deal with it eventually as difficult as it is for you understood cheekybren..but some day you will have to deal with it ..isn't it better to do so now ? its not that easy SeaMist * vidette{CL} smiles...it is a hard hard thing cheekybren especially if it is going to affect a lot of aspects of your life cheekybren...you may be surprised when you do share your experience...many ppl have probably been through the same issues i'm trying every day :) and i do do do hope not dee^ :( i know totty... maybe need to approach it differently for me admitting to myself that i had a problem i had to deal with was the first step to actually resolving it * totty nods if you can't get into one way ..then look for another way ... yes...coming to that awful realisation even... that this particular thing is what has been affecting you all these years * cheekybren nods yes vidette{CL} one of the greatest things i learned through sharing my experiences was that i was not the only one yes...and the thing i've learned tonight...is that ppl don't judge you for it...what you gain is a compassionate ear have seen that so many times dee ..people think thier dark side is theirs alone ...and that is not so " a problem shared is a problem solved " good advice absolutely vidette{CL} maybe not solved cheekybren...but at least halved damn sayings, always get them wrong heheh halved is a damn good beginning lol cheekybren..try to work on the feeling you have from your issue ...guilt...fear...etc...and find the source within the issue for each feeling deal with the biggest first ... * cheekybren slowly nods lovely people...it's been an interesting conversation...i hope it wasn't too difficult for anyone. you are a strong person, otherwise you would have let it bury you ages ago .. you are here talking about it .. thats the first step :) you will find if you do ...that some of the others will dissipate Unfortunately, i have to get these little folk home to their own beds :) thanks vidette{CL} *hugs* thanks thankyou again vidette{CL} :) and once you have dealt with the separate feelings .. it is no longer such a major issue thanks vidette *huggles* Does anyone have any suggestions for next week? nite vidette{CL} thanks ;) hugs vidette :) sexuak aspects ?? sexual respect? now sexual would be interesting *smiles* respect...good topic *grins too* hehehe respect is an excellent topic too now now !! :) oh i dont mind sexual too do we have any volunteers? * dee^ grins at totty * totty licks dee^ then you have next week and the wek after * sara{X^L} puts up her hand woo hoo sara{X^L}...then you got it :)) wheeeeeeeeeee sara :))) SEX mmmmm...where is that Master of mine sex or respect? this is on respect? oh...lol down gurl ! i was getting excited lol lol geeze...i better make sure i get my new ISP orgainised b4 next week..hehe respect respect it is :)) greetings sweet kyla :) * totty needs to learn respect hi kyla{F} hehehe totty respect is good you tart totty greetings, my sister sara save the sex thing for later :) hi hi kitten{Ozzie^} :)) * gypsy-rose thanks vidette{CL} for tonights discussion * SeaMist guess that sara will choose the sexual topic :)) am not a tart ok...thanks for your time everyone *hugs to all* yeah...sara is a virgin when it comes to sex now theres a topic !!!!! bye all oh totty...i am ;) thank you for sharing yourself vidette{CL} :)) thanks all * vidette{CL} waves on her way out...bbl bye gypsy-rose :))) totty, can I pm you ? geez did i miss it? sure cheekybren bye gypsy-rose its ok its logged kitten{Ozzie^} :)) ohh great thanks totty:)) * totty hugs kitten{Ozzie^} * kitten{Ozzie^} hugs totty back and smiles next weeks topic is respect :) ok :)) i can post it to the list if need be sara :) * SeaMist lost that bet lol SeaMist well thank you all same time and place next week ok isp allowing! thanks all take care everyone ;)) * cheekybren hugs everyone and play safe :) is this weeks topic still being discussed? is the respect to be irc or real life or both? totty...could you tell me how to get on the submission mailing list pls * kyla{F} listens closely ummmmmmm hehehe nps totty :) well real life prolly with a touch of irc ???? yep fine :) what did you want to talk bout Rascally :)) how we deal with dom's abuse? no, not dom's abuse...it's all the same no matter the persuasion sheesh, sorry lost mirc:( oh sorry i misunderstood well im off to play and contemplate for a while ;) oh dee ummmmmm lucky girl I was wondering if anyone has had a problem where they've seen the horrible things that have happened to others, and thought there own abuse was not so bad after all, so even though it has effected them, it gets pushed under the rug because it's not that bad in relation to everything else night totty :) ok totty me too :) * Rascally *huggles* totty hang on ill get that info thanx totty night totty, nice to see you again. bye subMission@queer.org.au with subscripe in the body of the text ta totty ;) good question Rascally...but what has happened to you is just as important ...the severity etc ..is not reallly the issue if not speak with ffairlady or me or vidette and we will see what we can do thanx ok i need some funnnnnnnnnn ;)) thanks again everyone :)) be well woohoo totty * totty waves :)) bye totty..hugs Session Close: Mon Jan 18 21:47:32 1999