when a ticklee says "i can't breathe"

[TicklingIsLife]

I kinda thought people need to take a breathe in order to laugh? Or does it tickle some so much they can't breathe? Does the ticklish feeling override the body taking in air? What exactly happens? Any scientific explanation?

 

[leechmaster]

I kinda thought people need to take a breathe in order to laugh? Or does it tickle some so much they can't breathe? Does the ticklish feeling override the body taking in air? What exactly happens? Any scientific explanation?

Well, I'm not a medic, but I think it's quite easy: The laughter keeps you from breathing properly and after some time, you're running on a low level of oxygen, which means less than you'd need to feel comfortable. But I don't think it can completely override the breathing reflex, so most certainly no one would actually suffocate. 🙂

 

[LeeAllure]

As long as someone can say "I can't breathe" and/or
is laughing, they're breathing. There's a complete
difference between almost passing out from lack of
oxygen, and laughing til you're exhausted, and may
be having trouble taking as full a breath as you'd like.
That feeling may be exacerbated when someone is
sitting on your chest and tickling you 😉

Lee

 

[milagros317]

Just as Lee said, if you can hear somebody say "I can't breathe" then they are breathing.

It is when their lips move trying to speak and no sound comes out that they are in trouble. So watch closely!

 

[TMF Jeff]

The first words out of my mouth whenever someone says they can't breathe are "If you can say you can't breathe, then you can breathe."

 

[ShadowTklr]

I know that based upon my proclivity for really torturous tickling that I should be the last guy to say this, but:

When someone says they can't breathe while in a fit of laughter, what is happening (provided they are serious) is that they are experiencing mild hypoxia which means their diaphram is becoming fatigued and is thrusting spasmodically upward more for the expulsion of air, than for the inhalation of it. This causes less oxygen absorption in the blood, which in turn, causes dizziness and a feeling that one might pass out. This can be frightening because the lee is finding it more and more difficult to express themselves verbally past the forced laughter.

As Jeff said, you really have to watch your lee. I am always of the opinion that it is best to head a verbal signal such as "I can't breathe," and monitor the amount of exhaustion, than it is to ignore it, especially if there is no safe word (which I don't use either).

 

[drew70]

I disagree with the idea that if they can say they can't breathe, they actually can. Breathing involves both inhaling and exhaling. Speaking only involves exhaling. I've been tickled many times to a point in which I can't inhale, and use what little air is left to mouth get the words out.

Fortunately, my ticklers have always saw fit to take my word for it and give me a breather. To continue tickling somebody when they are in that state exceeds the boundaries of safety and sanity in my opinion.
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[Homer28]

Maybe its just me but if someone said "I can't breath" I would stop. Even if they "can" breath, if they feel like they can't then that would be scary to say the least. Short of having an O2 stat device handy (those things they put on the finger at the hospital) then you won't know for sure.

 

[Deleted member 66627]

'Seriously. I really can't.'

or

'No, I mean it. I really can't.'

Works.

 

[BellaRisa]

The first words out of my mouth whenever someone says they can't breathe are "If you can say you can't breathe, then you can breathe."

So do I 😎

Now having said that, I respect that and stop or slow down; as a ridiculously large-busted yet still tiny person I NEED someone to stop or at least slow down when I say that I can't breathe, because what it really means is that due to a certain tickle-crazed giant gorilla on top of me my chest is beginning to hurt and/or feel so constricted that I'm going to panic and might even throw up. Nobody wants that

 

[kis123]

I disagree with the idea that if they can say they can't breathe, they actually can. Breathing involves both inhaling and exhaling. Speaking only involves exhaling. I've been tickled many times to a point in which I can't inhale, and use what little air is left to mouth get the words out.

Fortunately, my ticklers have always saw fit to take my word for it and give me a breather. To continue tickling somebody when they are in that state exceeds the boundaries of safety and sanity in my opinion.
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I'm going with Drew on this one!

Drew........Drew.........uh you can get off the floor now!

I have absolutely no desire to test limits; I don't mind giving them a little nudge, but certainly not pushing them. And if I say I can't breathe, I'm trusting my partner doesn't push me past that.

For those of you who are harder players, it's certainly your choice and I have nothing but love for you. But I'm more into the fun, playful, sensual, and sexual side of tickling. No rough stuff for me.

 

[classy]

hmmmmmmm

To me this would mean to slow up or stop for a second... let me get in some good air lol.... doesn't mean stop the session. The feeling of panic when you feel like you are having issues breathing takes the fun from the actual tickling ... at least with me.

 

[-Hari-]

I find it pretty fun to stop just long enuf for them to breath in and then start again 😀

Its fairly easy to tell when someone genuinely cannot continue without a decent break to calm down.

 

[PlayfulCarbonara]

I always stop when someone says they can't breath. Sure they can breath enough to laugh and say they can't, but what they're saying is that it is getting very difficult for them to breath. For some people this is almost akin to asphyxiation... and unless that is a turn on for them or something, it could induce a panic attack which pretty well ends your tickle session, and maybe even every tickle session you'd ever planned with them in the future. lol. I try not to push the envelope.

 

[Wildtime]

If your lee turns blue, that's a bad thing...

If your lee complains that they can't breathe, ease off and allow them to catch their breath, they'll stay conscious longer. If they start coughing, that's a DEFINITE sign you should stop, they're already going through involuntary respiratory spasms, you don't need to exacerbate the situation. If they're apneic (not breathing) and/or cyanotic (bluish discoloration of the skin), cut the victim loose and perform CPR immediately!

Make sure that the lee's chest isn't constricted in any way, whether through restraints or by sitting on them. This will lead to compression asphyxia, where inhalation is restricted by the mechanical prevention of expansion of the lungs.

and definitely, NO eating or drinking while being tickled. That's a choking hazard.

 

[huskys]

I'd give them a rest, but the tickling sure wouldn't stop.
And there would certainly be some sort of punishment if it turned out they were foolin'!!!! 😉

 

[soletkler]

It would seem to me there is an issue of how well you know the lee here. If it is your first time tickling someone you don't want to misjudge whatever their needs might be. If you know that person is a dirty liar when they're being tickled...well...you know what to do (or keep doing).

 

[aurora5150]

i don't usually say i can't breathe. if i'm having trouble catching my breath i'll say i need a quick break and get a sip of water. what happens for me is if i don't get a break i stop laughing and just start panting for air. i even stop moving because my entire focus is on catching my breath.

i think that if a lee stopped laughing and responding to the tickling that would be an indicator that your lee needs a break. but imo no way does it mean stop the session.

 

[Skipadeedoodah]

I dont think I'd say "I can't breathe" maybe just "I need to breathe" For me that feeling where you're laughing so hard you can't take proper breaths is fine for awhile, but when it starts to become uncomfortable it just is distracting and takes away from the tickling, and who wants that? 🙂

That having been said, I DEFINITELY would milk it for awhile...just to see how much I could get away with. "Are you ready now?" "No, not yet..." "How bout now?" "Not quite.." haha

 

[girlboundforfun]

While I have said that I enjoy the torture aspects of tickling, those aspects do not include being unable to breathe. I am usually given short breaks to catch my breath before it all starts up again.

 

[Adam]

It doesn't strike me as anything that is particularly enjoyable. In fact, if I heard those words, I'd be worried about sending a ticklee into panic mode. Bottom line, I'd stop for a wee bit and let a gal catch her breath.