Breath play (short holds)

Counted holds of the breath, a hand on the mouth — never pressure on the neck.

Why people do it

A short, counted hold changes the state of consciousness quickly, and the fear of not being able to breathe is a very direct kind of intensity.

Smallest way in

Only counted breath-holding that the person does themselves, with a hand nowhere near the neck. This app does not go further and neither should a beginner.

What to watch

Nothing on the neck. Ever. Pressure on the throat can kill with no warning and no visible cause, and it does so through mechanisms that have nothing to do with how strong anyone is. Stop for any dizziness. Never anything on the airway of somebody restrained or alone.

In the planner

4 different things carry this tag, and switching it off removes every one of them. The mildest of them sits at medium.