Fear of Shibari

During lockdown, many people discovered anxiety. Anxiety is a psychological condition in which a person experiences intense fear. This fear can have a very specific cause or it can be a generalized feeling. Among the most common fears is that of not being able to get out of a certain place or not being able to move. In other words, many people fear restraint. And, since restraint is the essence of Shibari, it is normal that some people feel fear of Shibari. This is something participants should discuss before a scene, especially if it’s the first for one of them.

The fear of being trapped is most commonly associated with having an accident in the subway or in an elevator. However, people with anxiety issues can also experience this fear just by being in a small room or a car. The idea of not being able to escape or move produces panic. This feeling can be constant. For example, when people refuse to use an elevator; or it can be occasional, as when people who usually take the subway, suddenly decide they don’t want to get in.

Lockdown brought the issue of anxiety to the forefront. Actually, studies show that several million people around the world experience it with varying degrees of intensity.

Having said that, it is important to remember that the essence of Shibari is restraint. And while some may find this lack of motion comfortable, and even relaxing, for others it may trigger a strong anxious response. Therefore, the participants of a Shibari scene should be honest and openly discuss their feelings toward restraint. The bottom, especially, should express whether he or she feels fear of Shibari.

If there is an anxiety issue, the scene can be designed so as not to restrain the bottom entirely. In severe cases, psychological help might be the best option.