Pain to Newborns Causes Lasting Effects as Children/Adults

[AnonL]

Originally Posted by veryconfused

I think if circumcision truly had SEVERE consequences, it would be readily apparent because of how common it is and how many people have gone through this procedure. So I don't think it makes a huge difference, but it may make a minor difference. It would be best not to believe that circumcision harmed you mentally, because the placebo affect of believing it did damage would probably do more damage itself to you psychologically. Just my 2 cents on this. (I base this information on nothing)

I talked to my psychiatrist about trauma and she said it is dependent more on the individual than the objective severity of the event. She explained how some can survive war and come out fine, while others may go to pieces from an event that looks trifling to the outside observer. I agree that there is a point where attributing mental harm to circumcision becomes destructive, but for some of us, there is already a long history of psychological difficulties, and we are understandably searching for answers. Understanding the cause can help us find the solution, but most people instantly dismiss circumcision as a cause, or at the best give a doubtful "maybe", then drop the issue. There at least needs to be more investigation done. Meanwhile, no "placebo effect" is going to fuck my life up more than I've managed to for the past decade, while knowing nothing about circumcision.

[Science Monk]

There is a German-hosted web site (in English) devoted to the connection between early childhood emotional experience and later adult anti-social behavior.

THE ORIGINS OF PEACE AND VIOLENCE
Deprivation of Physical Affection as a Main Cause
of Depression, Aggression and Drug Abuse
http://www.violence.de/

David
World As Monkey Island

[AnonL]

Originally Posted by Science Monk

There is a German-hosted web site (in English) devoted to the connection between early childhood emotional experience and later adult anti-social behavior.

THE ORIGINS OF PEACE AND VIOLENCE
Deprivation of Physical Affection as a Main Cause
of Depression, Aggression and Drug Abuse
http://www.violence.de/

David
World As Monkey Island

The main article on that site (http://www.violence.de/prescott/bulletin/article.html) was very interesting. He posits that somatosensory pleasure and violence are pretty much mutually exclusive. Fits right in with the discussion of circumcision, because not only is there the inflicting of pain on the sex organs, but life long deprivation of somatosensory pleasure. It gives legitimacy to restoration too, showing that it's not just some vain and narcissistic pursuit, but rather an attempt to meet a basic human need that was taken away. I cringe that many people seem to view restoration as being some sort of penis fetish. It's bad enough being cut, but to be humiliated for it on top of that is really unfair.

[Generic]

I suffered from moderate depression from late 2006-2008 and was put on Prozac from 2007-2008. I still suffer from slight depression. Now the question:
How do I know if that is even related to my circumcision? Isn't it impossible to tell?

How can we tell if the other physiological/psychological effects are due to infant circumcision when there are so many factors growing up (assuming the study is 100% conclusive)?

[prouly]

This is so true. Maybe another result of this is the fear of needles. Up until I was 12, I would go light headed followed by vomiting after getting any kind of shot. It seemed like a traumatic self-defense mechanism than anything else. Still to this day, whenever i see a needle, i cringe. But if it were a knife or anything sharp, I say bring it on.
I still wonder to this day, had I not been circumcised, would my body have reacted like this....

anyone else have an experience like this?
thanks.

[No144456]

not sure, but if anything it gave me a Resistance to pain, although I think I have
a pain intolerance, not only did I barely cry during my circumcision but I hardly cried at all, the first time I notice a intolerance was when I was 6 and my appendix blew, I didn't feel anything I just threw up and went back to bed. I've also had a surgery I woke up in, didn't hurt just felt weird. at around 15 I started cutting at my hands and body with butchers knifes because of my homosexual desires, I've also broken my nose three times, my shoulder twice and I am able to run miles until my asthma kicks in-if I didn't have asthma I could literally run and run

[cutitout27]

Do you ever try to imagine being cut as an infant? I find it near impossible to fathom what actually happened to me, and yet I see the evidence daily. I was born in the 70's before all the injections and all those topical numbing creams were around (not that it makes a huge difference). If you try to imagine that someone is scheduled to hold you down, and slice off your fingernails, how would that make you feel? Think about that. And it will be done without anesthesia. Your mind will reel if you try to realistically trick your brain into thinking that's something that could happen to you. That's a hypothetical. Now think about being new to the earth. Not knowing what's going to happen to you. Your just scooped up without a thought, and then your experiencing a pain beyond your limited imagination. It's absolutely horrific. Barbaric beyond reason. And we've normalized this procedure.

[AnonL]

Yeah I've often tried to imagine it (but kind of as a third person, because I'm too scared otherwise). I'm very much convinced that there must be psychological ramifications just like with PTSD. The main cause of the latter seems to be where a person is placed in a position of overwhelming powerlessness and horror... To me, that seems exactly what undergoing circumcision must be like.