Bondage and confinement play are often described as transformative experiences. Participants report feelings of euphoria, altered states of consciousness, and a heightened sense of connection.
Endorphins, along with other neurochemicals, play a central role in how the body and mind respond to restraint, pressure, and controlled stress.
The Role of Endorphins
Endorphins are the body’s natural opioids. Released during stress or pain, they reduce discomfort and produce sensations of relief or even pleasure. In bondage and confinement scenarios, physical restraint or pressure can trigger endorphin release in much the same way as intense exercise or ritualised practices.
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A 2020 study on BDSM play found elevated cortisol (a stress hormone) and endocannabinoid activity in submissive participants. These chemicals interact with endorphins, producing calming and euphoric effects that many describe as subspace (Sagarin et al., 2020, Archives of Sexual Behavior).
Pain, Pleasure, and Context
Pain and pleasure are closely linked in the brain. Neuroimaging research shows that the same pathways involved in processing pain can also activate the brain’s reward systems when experienced in a consensual, controlled context.
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Neuroscientist David Linden (2015, The Compass of Pleasure) describes how the dopamine system can reframe pain as rewarding, depending on expectation and context. In BDSM, restraint or confinement becomes meaningful rather than threatening, which reshapes the experience into one that is pleasurable.
The Flow State in BDSM
Psychologists have noted that BDSM can produce a flow-like state, intense focus, loss of self-consciousness, and altered perception of time. For submissives in confinement, this may feel like slipping into a trance. For dominants, the same neurochemistry can support feelings of control and heightened awareness.
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A study published in Time (2016) reported that participants often describe BDSM sessions as immersive experiences similar to mindfulness or meditation, linking this to shifts in endorphins and stress-related hormones.
Beyond Endorphins: Oxytocin and Bonding
While endorphins provide the euphoria, oxytocin - sometimes called the bonding hormone - strengthens emotional connection. Confinement play often involves high levels of trust, and the aftercare that follows can release oxytocin, reinforcing intimacy and security between partners.
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Verywell Mind (2021) notes that BDSM participants frequently report improved mood and deeper relational bonds, supported by oxytocin release during and after play.
The euphoria and altered states often described in bondage and confinement play are supported by real biology. Endorphins reduce pain and heighten pleasure, dopamine reframes stress as rewarding, and oxytocin strengthens trust and intimacy. Together, they explain why these practices feel powerful, meaningful, and memorable.
Sanctum Domina creates the structures where this interplay of psychology and biology can safely take place, dependable furniture that supports both the body and the mind.
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