Can Spanking help treat depression?

[Capt Hand]

Real research on this topic is difficult because of misguided popular search engine algorithms (a topic for another discussion.)  I know from experience spanking can have calming affects on those who are stressed out and the brain's response has been relatively thoroughly studied.  That said I'm sort of biased on the subject but like Mulder I want to believe.  I have seen first had the possitive sometimes even life changing results spanking can have as a tool for behavior modification.  Been a life coach for many years and for those who want to change there is no doubt about how effective a good spanking (or even the treat of one) can be.  I have been told by a few who have tried that it works well for treating depression but I've never applied it for that purpose.  Thoughts? 

[Bramblewine]

I can't speak from experience, never having tried it and not knowing anyone (as far as I know) who has, but I would think it wouldn't be effective at all. Spanking brings about feelings of euphoria, and the calmness you mention, because it raises endorphins. But what goes up must come down. People also experience major crashes after that spanking euphoria: drop. For someone who's depressed, the drop would make it even worse. And the spanking euphoria would do nothing for their depression in the long run.  It might make them feel better immediately after, but longer after, it would be no better and probably worse.

If they're into spanking for punishment and/or motivation, trying to treat depression that way would only make it worse. For punishments or motivations to work, what you're being punished or motivated for has to be under your control. If it's not, no such tactics will work, and trying them will only make the problem worse. Depression is not under anyone's control. It can't be punished or motivated away.

 

[Am123]

A thousand times no. 

I mean, doing something you like can always help manage the symptoms of depression.

But it's not a substitute for therapy or any other type of depression treatment. Any more than it would for COVID, or flu or other illnesses. 

[OhRedhead]

Not a chance. Spanking can do many positive things, but it cannot cure depression or any other psychiatric illness. In fact, it is likely to cause additional problems if someone is really feeling acutely depressed (including a treatment delay while spanking is attempted as a cure).

[danadares]

I'm no doctor, so take this for what it's worth. First, what is the cause of the regular bouts of depression? I wouldn't use my experience as a prescription for treating anything, but I suffered for years with stretches of depression when I was younger, not knowing why I felt that way. The cause of my depression could have been many things. I was on meds, but weaned myself off of them because I didn't like the side effects. I might have been misdiagnosed, and never had a serious mental disorder, because I was eventually able to find ways to mentally deal with the onset of my depression, and it hasn't been the debilitating problem it once was. I can see where a good relationship that involves spanking might help someone deal with whatever I did, but I wouldn't recommend it as a treatment to replace legitimate science.

 

[Capt Hand]

I'll have to look into the methodology and underlying logic but I think the target group are those who are suffering from the negative consequenses resulting from their own poor choices.  As something of a naturalist I dislike taking drugs whenever avoidable.  I would think if its a chemical imbalance or mental illness causing the issue there would certainly be better ways.  

[brittygirl]

1 hour ago, Capt Hand said:

I'll have to look into the methodology and underlying logic but I think the target group are those who are suffering from the negative consequenses resulting from their own poor choices.  As something of a naturalist I dislike taking drugs whenever avoidable.  I would think if its a chemical imbalance or mental illness causing the issue there would certainly be better ways.  

Depression is a mental illness/chemical imbalance. What you’re describing isn’t depression. There is enough stigma around mental health and taking drugs without adding in excuses for being spanked. If you want to be spanked, then find a way to get spanked! Spanking cannot cure any mental illness, and real depression can be absolutely debilitating. It is different than just feeling sad. 

[Bramblewine]

There's no way punitive spanking could ever be an effective treatment for depression. For fun spanking could be a bright spot for someone who's into it and depressed (as long as they're not too depressed to enjoy it), but it wouldn't be a cure. However, body work is effective for depression in some cases. That's a little explored avenue that deserves a lot more attention.

I had amazing results from chi nei tsang sessions a while back, when I was experiencing depression along with some mysterious physiological symptoms. The practitioner didn't touch my butt, though!

Takeaway: doing something to the body might help, if it's done by someone who knows what they're doing. But that something probably isn't spanking.

[F/m_Spanking_only]

I have depression as well as suicidal thoughts. No, spanking can't do anything for that. At best, it can cheer you up for a little while, but that's about it. I made the mistake of having a spanking session right after attempting to hurt myself. It wasn't the best idea. 

[Chawsee]

22 hours ago, F/m_Spanking_only said:

I have depression as well as suicidal thoughts. No, spanking can't do anything for that. At best, it can cheer you up for a little while, but that's about it. I made the mistake of having a spanking session right after attempting to hurt myself. It wasn't the best idea. 

I worry about you, my friend. Please email me when you feel like this, okay?

[F/m_Spanking_only]

16 hours ago, Chawsee said:

I worry about you, my friend. Please email me when you feel like this, okay?

Thank you so much Miss Chawsee ❤️❤️

[EnglishSpanker]

Be extremely careful with depression, so as to avoid compounding the situation by a spanking that doesn't work as you had hoped. It is useful to get serious depression assessed and treated by clinically competent practitioners with experience in the field. They should be able to determine whether the condition is functional or organic and proceed from there.

[ReformedEE]

I would agree that spanking cannot treat depression and could complicate it.  On the flip side, a spanko who needs spanking and can’t get it can become depressed.

[Jimhhh]

Anything you can do to make you feel better, do it. Spanking and being spanked can be fun, and make you feel better for the moment. 

[Overrmykneemiss]

I will add my 2 cents ;

I have dealt with depression most of my life, I have seen many professionals ( psychologists, psychiatrists, MSW’s etc..), tried several meds until one seemed to help. There has been many hours of reading self help books, 12 step meetings and so on.

What I came to believe is that probably more than one issue caused these feelings,(duhh🙂)  the one diagnosis was my depression is from ‘Learned Behavior ‘- meaning just that, I learned to survive using thoughts and actions that were not healthy which led to my issues.

i never had the healthy discipline or guidance growing up that was necessary- though not really a bad kid however as some know growing up without accountability can cause problems such as not knowing about boundaries, lack of necessary goals to reach, feeling that I had no direction in life as an adult ( like a ship with out a rudder, it’s very difficult to stay the corse in life)

I sought for several years a Female Material figure that I could feel comfortable with that was wise, understanding and was not sadistic. I have a few Female Tops as friends however it would never feel right because of prior circumstances. ( some feel that to regress to childhood is of no benefit)  I began being a Mentor on the premise that I would be the Parental figure that I felt so badly that I  needed previously, this seemed to help me figure out what I missed and what could have happened in my early youth and possibly avoided my thought pattern of depression.
Things eventually worked out and I feel the experience that I gained with my own ‘recovery’ has helped not only myself but the ee’s, the females that were basically having the same issues as I had gone though that I understood and be compassionate as well as strict within reason.

My point about this long read is that SOME depression can be helped by providing accountability for the lack of or sufficiently provided discipline in youth. Being held accountable for the behavior that leads to depression , the thoughts that lead to depression can build a healthy mindset which can ease or possibly eliminate the depression itself.
 
Realize though a chemical imbalance is much different and should be dealt with using professionals, I encourage all with these issues to seek professional assistance and be very honest with them - it could be a matter of life or death.

Been there, done that.. maybe I will find the maternal figure I seek but until then things are good.

I am done now 😁

[Capt Hand]

Thank you.  I appreciate you sharing. 

[Capt Hand]

Been trying to thank everyone for the heartfelt thoughts on this topic.  Haven't mastered responding to older comments but everyone's input is valued and appreciated.

[Somthingrandom]

Been watching this one from a distance but now I will chime in.

Alot of words are getting used, crossed, and wrong.  There is a differance in the words cure, treat, manage, etc.  Likewise, there are differant causes of depression; neurochemical (i.e. serotonin inbalance), hormone, trauma induced, unknown.  This is why drugs work for some and not others.

Now to the question at hand.  There is no known "cure" for chronic/acute depression.  When I say depression I am refering to this type.  Most therapy seeks to either treat through drugs or therapy and manage the behaviors involved. Usually some combination.

So spanking at best would be possible temporary treatment and help to manage behaviors but not a cure.  At worst it could send somebody further down the rabbit hole with deadly consequences.

(All following scenarios are consent based and the ee is into spanking.  They are also not every scenario, just 2 for illustration)

A best case scenario: A persons depression is derived from "guilt delusion".  Meaning they feel guilty for things they maybe should not.  A spanking to help them manage the guilt and "clean the slate" might help them to function more normally.  

A worst case scenario: A persons depression is derived from "guilt delusion".  Meaning they feel guilty for things they maybe should not. A spanking from an er that is not in tune with this or not careing about the ee could make this worse by compounding the guilt.

Notice very little differance in the scenarios.  So here is my advice:

1.  Before doing any of this, seek professional help first.  Preferably, kink aware help, but if depressed seek help. Get yourself emotionally in a position that if it goes wrong you dont go deeper.  Also, be open to the idea you should not...spanking is fun not life and death.

2. If you do decide to do this, do it with a trusted partner, preferably a spouse who knows you really well.  I would make no exceptions to this.  The wrong er could destroy you.  You are playing with fire, do it with a fireman (or fire woman).

3.  Get off all porn.  Yep, you heard that right.  Porn messes with Dopamine and Serotonin receptor levels.  2 key chemicals involved in depression.  Many spanko folks are into spanking porn.  Get away from it (alcohol too if we are being honest).  If you watch porn and drink then no amount of "spanking therapy" will over come it. (See step 1).

I say all this AS THE GUY who has been/is/will be there.  I don't just have the t-shirt I own a closet of them.  I have been in therapy, take supplements, stopped drinking, stopped porn, and when in really bad states me and my wife "work" through it...sometimes spanking and it helps.  But not always.

My concern with the original posters comments is that I can tell there is a lack of understanding of depression. That is dangerous.  Education first.  Don't play with fire if you are the gas man.

Just my 2 cents.

[Somthingrandom]

On 11/18/2022 at 10:36 PM, F/m_Spanking_only said:

I have depression as well as suicidal thoughts. No, spanking can't do anything for that. At best, it can cheer you up for a little while, but that's about it. I made the mistake of having a spanking session right after attempting to hurt myself. It wasn't the best idea. 

If you ever need to talk PM me.  I understand depression too well.

[Capt Hand]

I want to point out I am not a psycologist or practicing in any way to treat people's depression.  Apparently there are those who believe they understand depression.  I do not and make no assertions otherwise.  I suspect there are a variety of different types and levels of depression however.  This topic came up when someone mentioned they were feeling depressed and needed a spanking to help them focus.  I feel depressed myself on occaision and find my comfort in music that moves me played on a surround sound in the dark on the floor of my theater room.  I found it interesting this person apparently gets similar results from being spanked though she claims not to actually enjoy being spanked at all.  Not sure if this is a clue or clouds the water but to be clear I don't expect medicare to cover spanking therapy for the treatment of clinical depression anytime soon.  Maybe a better choice of words would have been treat "the blues" instead of depression. 

[NeedDiscipline1]

On 11/7/2022 at 3:11 PM, Am123 said:

A thousand times no. 

I mean, doing something you like can always help manage the symptoms of depression.

But it's not a substitute for therapy or any other type of depression treatment. Any more than it would for COVID, or flu or other illnesses. 

Neuro-chemically the answer is kind of… honestly. The research attached to Sadism is linked to this. Pain stimulates neuro-chemical receptors that mimics some medications. This is why bipolar people are often dare devils and thrill seekers, it’s also why the spanking community over indexes with depression.

[BansheeGal]

Anything that jolts emotions into my body seems to help, so sure, spanking could contribute. I don't see it as being a cure however. 

Taking B vitamins and being able to pay my bills without stressing about it are what work the best for me to prevent episodes of depression. 

[SpankingBanker]

***I can only speak based on my own personal experiences spanking some who have issues with mental health...***

I have had spankees who have come to me with issues such as depression, bi polar, anxiety, etc.  My vert first DD relationship was a girlfriend with severe bouts of anxiety who suggested spanking.  In those that I have spanked, the spankee certainly reported to me that they felt improved mental states. 

Now, these were also people who came to spanking in addition to using conventional methods of improvement like medication and therapy.  They by no means tried to replace conventional methods or self cure simply by receiving spankings. The spankings were more or less a supplement to the traditional methods that happened to work for these particular individuals.

There is a little bit of research out there more recently as it pertains to therapeutic spanking. It is said that the endorfins released from a therapeutic spanking, in which  strong crying occurs create an almost "euphoric" feeling afterwards.  Whether it's the spanking or the subsequent crying that occurs that releases these endorfins as effectively is up for debate.  I would imagine the mental aspect of the pre-spanking nervousness and feeling of helplessness plays a role as well, but again, I am no Doctor.

I suppose all of this is to say that a spanking is to mental health issues, as drinking a Hot Toddie is to the flu in that it contributes to some people feeling better, but a doctor doesn't prescribed Hot Toddies to actually cure the flu.  

[selfsp12]

I suffer from anxiety and periods of depression. I cannot speak, of course, for anything but my own experiences. I am on medications, see a therapist, and self-spank. To me spanking is a way to let go and be in the moment. It is essentially mediation for me. When I am depressed i do NOT want a spanking, and rely on other techniques I have learned. I'll also use calming CBD gummies to help, focus on work, etc.

Spanking is not a cure for me, but a very beneficial tool to manage day to days ups and downs.

I agree with other comments that depression treatment should start with professional help, and the hard work needed to get relief.

[cat627]

As someone who had struggled with PTSD, anxiety, and depression for many years,  thought I'd chime in here...  

I feel the mixed opinions here are well justified, as from what I have seen and experienced, there is no "one-size-fits-all" when it comes down to mental health.  They may all carry similar elements, but have different causes, with variation in symptoms, and varying degrees of intensity. Some are life-long, some are more shorter lived.  Everyone experiences it in their own way, and what may be helpful for one, may not be helpful for another.  But all views and experiences I see expressed here are totally valid, with no one right or wrong.

Depression for some may be a life long condition, due to chemical imbalances, and for others, it can stem from a life event.  For some it's deep or unexplained sadness, for other's it's emptiness, void of emotion. 

For me **personally** , my bouts of depression stem from my PTSD. It comes in waves, I don't struggle with chronic depression, but it does surface. Especially as I progress and move forward in life, and hit all these new milestones. For example, I hit an extreme wave of depression after graduating with my associate's degree. It was supposed to be a time of great happiness for me, it was a success I never thought possible. But the exhaustion was there, I had reflect on my past history of trauma, all it had taken to get there, the progress I've made, the past missed opportunities, the feeling of "now what?"  The idea of the bar being raised...   I fell into a depression which made no sense to me,  but it was one familiar, as I had such moments at other times in my life.  It was still real and legitimate...  

In these moments, I find spanking helps *immensely* ...  Especially as medications do not work for me when it comes to depression.  You know those TV commercials for anti-depressants that list suicidal thoughts among the many list of possible side effects? Yeah. I'm one of those people.  They cause me to sort of "flatline" 

So when it comes to spanking, first, it helps me "snap out of it" ... In such states of depression, it's easy to feel "empty" or "in a fog" where things don't seem to matter as much... Well, the sting of a sound spanking, tends to wake me up, and cause me to squirm and flail about a bit.. (Suddenly making me realize I do care a bit, and am not as without feeling as I thought) secondly, the tears especially, help me get out whatever unexplained or unprocessed emotions I might be carrying...  It's almost as if by crying enough, all those empty dark feelings come out with the tears...  I associate spanking with care and affection, so there is peace, security and reassurance that comes out of it.

Now, it may not be a "magical cure" I may still have some of those feelings lingering, but it *helps* If there is anything still lingering, it eases the symptoms enough that I can focus and move forward a bit more, easing just enough of the sadness and emptiness to see a bit more clear, and as for the rest, serves as a reminder of a "safety rail" I have with the discipline, where for the moment, I can just focus on the rules, and trust that the wave will pass.

It is true that the post-spanking "drop" can be a thing for me, so I will add that I probably need a lot more after care than I usually would if I am having some of these moments.