ALTERED STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS V: Why Does it Feel so F.cking Good?

A good impact play session often feels profoundly rewarding because it suspends the ordinary constraints of consciousness - time slows down, self-awareness shifts, and the usual chaos of the mind quiets or even disappears. In these moments, people often report a sense of deep presence, emotional release, and connection—with themselves, with others, or with something larger. Neurologically, these states are often accompanied by changes in brainwave activity (e.g., increased theta and gamma rhythms), decreased activity in the default mode network (associated with self-referential thought), and increased levels of endorphins and dopamine. These effects typically last for hours, even days or weeks after a good impact session.

From a psychological perspective, altered states such as an impact session offer a kind of reset. They allow us to temporarily step outside everyday rituals, relieve physical tension, break down emotional defense. This can bring pleasure, insight, catharsis, or simply the relief of surrender. These states are often described as “freeing,” “healing,” or “spiritual” - because they are personal, meaningful and transformative. When the right conditions are met - safety, communication, skill, and trust - an altered state can become a doorway into embodied depth and self-discovery which lasts well beyond the session.

When intensity is delivered with care, safety, and clear communication, it can do more than create a fleeting altered state — it can actually help re-wire the nervous system through neuroplasticity. Repeated experiences of moving through sensation while feeling safe and held teach the nervous system a new association: that intensity doesn't have to mean danger. Over time, this can shift the body's baseline stress response, making it easier to tolerate discomfort, regulate emotion, and stay present — not just during a session, but in everyday life.