Warning: Neither the writer, nor Big Easy Magazine directly endorse the sexual practice of breathplay, erotic asphyxiation, or especially auto-erotic asphyxiation. Consult a medical professional before trying any of these practices. The author completely discourages most forms of auto-erotic asphyxiation. For more details, continue reading the article. Before any play, consider talking to someone more experienced in this subject. The shortest answer is that breathplay, which can involve either a couple or more people involved, or be done individually as auto-erotic asphyxiation, is, in short, the withholding of oxygen to achieve an effect.
Sex in the Big Easy: Take My Breath Away – a Guide to Understanding Erotic Asphyxiation
Erotic asphyxiation - Wikipedia
He had hanged himself. Oddly, his head and shoulders were suspended from a noose only about three feet from the floor and his legs and torso were in a reclining position. Pornographic magazines were found, open, next to the body. At the inquest into the young man's death, the coroner, Dr Peter Dean, recorded an open verdict. He was not convinced it was a case of suicide. Hanging himself was a deliberate act, but it had taken an unforeseen turn.
Erotic asphyxiation variously called asphyxiophilia , hypoxyphilia or breath control play is the intentional restriction of oxygen to the brain for the purposes of sexual arousal. The term autoerotic asphyxiation is used when the act is done by a person to themselves. Colloquially, a person engaging in the activity is sometimes called a gasper. The erotic interest in asphyxiation is classified as a paraphilia in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association. Erotic Asphyxiation can lead to accidental death due to asphyxia.
DSM-5 distinguishes between paraphilias and paraphilic disorders. Paraphilias are defined as atypical, yet not necessarily disordered, sexual practices. Hence, DSM-5 new approach to paraphilias demedicalizes and destigmatizes unusual sexual behaviors, provided they are not distressing or detrimental to self or others. Asphyxiophilia, a dangerous and potentially deadly form of sexual masochism involving sexual arousal by oxygen deprivation, are clearly described as disorders.