It might be safe to assume that I have some form of piercing addiction. I feel like the more I learn about piercing-related body modification, the longer my list grows for piercings I want. Now, don’t get my wrong, I don’t plan on covering my body, every inch, with a piece of shiny, sparkly metal. There are plenty of other people who can stab and pierce away, adorning their bodies with a staggering amount…I just don’t see myself going that way.
However, I do know that I look forward to checking a few more off my list. I was happy to do that a couple Fridays back. You see, Reno Tattoo Co. was hosting $10 piercing day a week earlier because they didn’t want to do it the last Friday of October, which happened to be Halloween. It was actually quite a stroke of luck I happened to be having dinner with coworkers who were privy to the change. It was almost 9 pm, so we really made a split decision to go downtown and get some piercings. I had already been anticipating going down there on Halloween and starting my forward helix piercing.
Thankfully, they were still open and conveniently dead, so we put our names down, gave them our IDs, and were swept into the back room. It was me and just one other coworker who had decided to get pierced (she was getting her nose pierced). So, I sat down as he marked my ear and showed me the placement. (AUTHOR’S NOTE: I feel obligated to share that when I did go to the shop, I was slightly inebriated. Now, before you lash out at me, I assure you, I had consumed barely a full margarita leading up to this visit; however, I signed a contract stating that I was indeed sober. DO NOT copy this mistake, it is such a bad idea, especially the more intoxicated you are. I was extremely coherent, but I did notice that I bled a little more that usual, so just be careful. I know for a fact that was the one and only time this would be my circumstance).
What Makes Getting Piercings Addictive? Surely Being Addicted To Pain Makes No Sense From A Species Survival Perspective?
He told me that my forward helix was a bit more petite, so I probably would only be able to have two. This was pretty disappointing, but I quickly got over it. Another stupid behavior of mine that evening was I told him the wrong ear, so I gave myself a decent kick in the ass later over that. Regardless, the piercing was quick and relatively painless. It’s been healing, and at a slower pace than I would like to admit. I am cleaning it regularly, and I love how it looks with the jewelry. I definitely look forward to getting the second one at the end of November. And from there, I only have my outer conch and lower belly button to pierce.
Here is what the first of the two forward helix piercings I will have. This and all the other pictures of my piercings (and the upcoming stranger’s piercings pictures) will be posted on the Instagram: . Share pictures of your gorgeous and awesome piercings by “@”ing !, they might say, but talking about addiction in any form is way more nuanced than just saying you like doing something.
Piercings can be psychologically addictive, in the sense that many people will continue to see how far they can push their limits once they start getting them, says Stephanie Hutter-Thomas, a professional body piercer and PhD candidate studying the psychology of body art. After conquering the anxiety of successfully receiving and healing that first body piercing, it becomes more exciting to choose the next one, she says. The more exposure we have to a particular chosen event or stimuli, the less frightening or outrageous it seems because we slowly become desensitized. There's no real research that shows that people are physiologically dependent on getting body piercings, so Hutter-Thomas suspects that people are more likely drawn to the journey or process. From my perspective, it becomes more a matter of pursuing or maintaining a sense of personal identity, rather than a pathology like addiction, she says.
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But there is a lot going on inside your brain when you get a piercing, Hutter-Thomas says. When your body experiences anything physically intense, particularly stress and pain, your brain releases endorphins, she says. Endorphins then interact with your body's perception of pain, similar to the way opioids (like morphine or oxycodone) would, she says. Unlike prescription medications, natural activation of our body's opiate receptors doesn't lead to physical dependency.
Is pain in itself addicting? Hutter-Thomas compares it to some of the psychologically complex practices within the S&M community (like choking or spanking). Pain allows us to experience pleasure by presenting adequate contrast for our brain, she says. Pleasure may feel nice, but it doesn't make us happy without something painful to compare it to. Many piercing enthusiasts describe the feeling after getting one as release and relaxation, she says. Some people seek out a piercing procedure as a form of self-therapy, allowing them to release stress.
Of course, not everyone feels this way about their piercings, and for many people, it's just a way to express themselves. Hutter-Thomas says that someone's intentions for getting a piercing often dictate the type of experience they'll have getting it. A person choosing a new piercing after spending their time diligently contemplating and preparing for it will often have a more positive experience during the procedure, she says. But, if you're just doing it because your friends are all doing it, she says you might not have as great of a time.
I Think I'm Starting To Get Addicted To Piercings But I'm Also Massively Indecisive!
Having a solid intention for getting your piercing also means you probably won't regret it, and may pay a little more attention to cleaning the area properly than someone who just got a piercing in haste, she says. What you do with your body and how many piercings you get is entirely your choice — and if it feels good doing it, power to you. Walking away with a new piece of jewelry is just an added bonus.
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