Everything harder than everyone else: Why some of us push our bodies to extremes

Jenny Valentish

doi:10.7765/9781526162182

This book is about people willing to do the sorts of things that most others couldn't, shouldn't or wouldn't. While there are all sorts of reasons why people consume substances, the author notes that there are those who treat drug-taking like an Olympic sport, exploring their capacity to really push their bodies, and frankly, wanting to be the best at it. Extreme athletes, death-defiers and those who perform incredible stunts of endurance have been celebrated throughout history. The most successful athletes can compartmentalise, storing away worry and pain in a part of their brain so it does not interfere with their performance. The brain releases testosterone, for a boost of strength and confidence. In bondage, discipline, sadism and masochism (BDSM) play, the endogenous opioid system responds to the pain, releasing opioid peptides. It seems some of us are more wired than others to activate those ancient biological systems, be it through being caned in a dungeon during a lunchbreak or climbing a sheer rock wall at the weekend. Back in 1990, sociologist Stephen Lyng coined the term 'edgework', now frequently used in BDSM circles, as 'voluntary pursuit of activities that involve a high potential for death, physical injury, or spiritual harm'.

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Everything harder than everyone else

Why some of us push our bodies to extremes

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv

Contents
pp v-vi

Dedication
pp vii-viii

Introduction
pp 1-8

Chapter One - Don’t know when to stop
pp 9-36

Chapter two - Tasting the limits
pp 37-62

Chapter Three - Bringing order to chaos
pp 63-96

Chapter Five - Levelling up
pp 119-144

Chapter Six - This is hardcore
pp 145-168

Chapter seven - The art of suffering
pp 169-190

Chapter Eight - Anger is an energy
pp 191-232

Chapter Nine - The first death
pp 233-274

Acknowledgements
pp 275-276

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Everything harder than everyone else

Why some of us push our bodies to extremes

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