I recently spoke with a fellow kink enthusiast, “Mint Flip,” about how hypersensitivity to touch impacts her life. This conversation unexpectedly shed light on my own longstanding confusion about my kinks, providing a new perspective that resonates with my experiences.
For a long time, I thought my tactile preferences were contradictory. On one hand, I can’t stand tight clothing in daily life. I avoid tight jeans, always buy clothes a size larger, and have been bra-free for almost a decade, enjoying the freedom of loose clothing. If my clothes are too tight, I feel incredibly uncomfortable, almost like I want to scream and squirm.
On the other hand, I love creating situations where my body is intentionally constrained and tightly bound. For example, I enjoy wearing a steel-boned corset, tightening the laces to feel the even pressure around my waist. This makes breathing harder, but the pressure is comforting and exhilarating. My fascination with bondage doesn’t necessarily involve eroticism. I don’t need a partner or sexual fantasy to enjoy the physical sensation of being tightly bound. This isn’t about enduring pain to get pleasure; it’s about the direct sensation of tightness.
Mint Flip introduced me to the concept of a “hug machine,” a device used to comfort hypersensitive individuals, often those with autism. Invented by Temple Grandin, it consists of two V-shaped padded boards connected to an air compressor, which applies adjustable pressure to the user’s body. This deep touch pressure helps alleviate anxiety caused by sensory hypersensitivity.
Learning about the hug machine gave me insight into my own experiences. I’ve always been sensitive to touch. Tight clothes make me uncomfortable, and unexpected touches can make me flinch. However, in controlled environments, I find comfort in tactile pressure, like wearing a corset or tight bodysuit. This controlled and voluntary pressure is soothing, much like Grandin’s hug machine.
Talking to others with similar experiences, I found commonalities. We all have tactile sensitivity that makes us picky about clothing in daily life but find comfort in controlled, tight sensations in other contexts. This seemingly contradictory preference is actually quite reasonable.
Reflecting on these experiences has helped me understand my preferences better. I enjoy exploring different tactile sensations, like using low-temperature wax for the tight feeling it creates as it cools and solidifies on my skin.
Understanding that my touch sensitivity isn’t a flaw but a part of my sensory profile has been enlightening. It’s about finding ways to manage and enjoy these sensations in a controlled manner, much like finding the complexity in the taste of coffee or the texture of food.
Leave a Reply