Trepanning, anyone?

[slewb]

I read Joe Mellen's "Bore Hole" (it's an autobiography of a self-trepanner) a couple years back and ever since then I've had this recurring desire to drill a hole in my head. For a while it bordered on obsession. I know that in the interest of harm reduction people on here are going to be like "hey, don't try to drill a hole in your head," and that's wise, and I won't. But I can't help but think maybe one day, if I can find someone who actually knows what they're doing...

Anyone else here ever think about/research this? Or already have a hole in their skull?

 

[dreamer042]

This comes up in introductory psychology classes pretty often where it's usually received with a healthy mix of humor and derision. It's interesting to look at the history and the various beliefs that have led to this practice over the centuries. I can't help but think puncturing your skull is misguided at best and in general probably a really bad idea.

 

[Jin]

are you harvesting your own pineal ? :thumb_up:

permission granted :twisted:

also its ok to be a cannibal

 

[Mustelid]

Not quite trepanning, but in the "math horror" movie Pi, the main character drills a hole in his brain with a power drill to stop migraines, and it also removes his genius math abilities to not being able to perform arithmetic. Anyway, as a cluster sufferer, though I'm no math genius, if this wasn't just movie nonsense, I'd actually be tempted. I'd probably get someone else to do it though, I think self brain surgery is a bad idea in general.

 

[skoobysnax]

hehe, I'll pass on that fun lol!

 

[slewb]

I can't help but think puncturing your skull is misguided at best and in general probably a really bad idea.

Yeah intuitively this is what I keep coming back to, but I have yet to see any headlines reading "Idiot Ends up in Hospital After Taking Power Drill to the Cranium." Hypothetically if you did end up scraping your brain a bit (unlikely considering the space between yur skull and ya bag a noodles) would the consequences be that terrible? Drilling through the front of the skull you'd end up hitting the frontal lobe and as far as I can tell I never really used that thing anyway.

Specific to the book to which I'm referring - this guy drilled a hole in his head and felt amazing ever after. I have done a lot of admittedly strange things to my body in order to feel amazing just on a temporary basis.

I'd probably get someone else to do it though, I think self brain surgery is a bad idea in general.

See that's my issue. If I was going to do this I'd want somebody else behind the drill. And I bet it would help your migraines (based on nothing, but sometimes my head feels really full and it hurts and I feel like a hole could help things get out).

are you harvesting your own pineal?

Gotta try out that pineal gland extract at some point right?
Thanks for your permission, I have a friend who is a carpenter and another who is a dental surgeon between the two of them they're probably really good at drilling stuff.

Alsoas a side note, in this book the author posits that if you eat enough sugar while you're tripping you'll never have a bad trip. Any thoughts on that?

 

[dreamer042]

but I have yet to see any headlines reading "Idiot Ends up in Hospital After Taking Power Drill to the Cranium."

Well there was this:
Two men arrested for drilling woman's skull
2 Men Make Plea Deal for Drilling Woman's Head
Duo who drilled on skull may surrender
ABC ordered to hand over unedited head-drilling tapes

 

[Spiralout]

Your going to have a dentist and a carpenter team up and drill a hole in your head? :?:

What is the functionality of having a hole in your head?

Things that make ya go HMMMMMM *spractral strokes chin thinking*

Bad idea :!:

 

[Parshvik Chintan]

I have yet to see any headlines reading "Idiot Ends up in Hospital After Taking Power Drill to the Cranium."

and you have every intent to fix that?

 

[dreamer042]

Come on guys, we really should be moar "open minded" to the idea.

ba dum tish




For seriously though the history of this practice goes way way back in a variety of cultures for a variety of purposes. It's really quite fascinating from a historical curiosity perspective. Check out the wiki. I'd be interested in hearing more about this book and results claimed by those who practice voluntary trepanation.

 

[slewb]

dreamer, all those articles refer to the same case and all they tell us is that it's illegal to drill a hole in someone's head without a medical licence, even if that person wants it done. The woman who was trepanned has not complained.

Mr. Chintan. I said from the beginning that I don't think it's a great idea. I'm a deeply sarcastic person with fantastic tendencies so if I don't see any reason not to do or believe something I will talk about it and explore it and yes, even consider it just for fun. As far as I can tell no one who has undergone this procedure has suffered negative effects. It's not rational, I know. But there's nothing that says that I shouldn't consider it other than simple common sense.

I dunno if y'all can see but I quoted myself a couple times instead of editing this post and then deleted those. Buttons are hard. The book I'm referring to, apart from being a cool head drilling story, is a fascinating look into early psychedelic culture.

I'd be interested in hearing more about this book and results claimed by those who practice voluntary trepanation.

Here's a truly horrible article about the author's best friend:

The Cannabis Countess: Why is eccentric who drilled a hole in head to get high supported by the Government's drugs czar?

Amanda Feilding, now 67, is these days the Countess of Wemyss and March, wife of the landowning 13th Earl, and a friend of the Royal Family.

www.dailymail.co.uk

As for the book itself, It's not in print anymore but you can find it in PDF.

 

[Bancopuma]

An article that may be of interest.

An Interview with the Woman Who Drilled a Hole in Her Head to Open Up Her Mind

Amanda Feilding claims trepanation might make us happier, healthier, and maybe help people at risk for Alzheimer's. She's not only an expert, she conducted the operation on herself to see what was what.

www.vice.com

 

[Spiralout]

I'm not sure I would call this a "fantastic" tendency. Maybe a "holy" tendency?

It says in your signature "she used my head like an exploder", can I attempt to use your head as a bottle opener if you do this?

 

[null24]

Trepanning as a practice is interesting. In many of the modern accounts I've read ( and i haven't read 'bore hole', but looking for a new book, thanks! ) ,obsession with the act prior to performing it is common. Somewhat as you described, OP. It is interesting to me how such an obviously marginal idea like trepanation would become an obsession. I've read accounts of people developing revulsions toward certain body parts, leading to autosurgery to remove them, but with trapanation, it's often an intense curiosity, or a desire to end some kind of pain.

And hey, as far as that pineal extraction goes people, come on now, let's keep this a serious discussion. :roll:

 

[Spiralout]

An obsession with a marginal idea points to some kind of obsessive compulsive spectrum disorder. I've fell into this with other things and it is not fun or rational.

 

[Orion]

Edit:

Nm, I obviously don't need to say the obvious. Obviously.

If one was to actually go through with this, one should have a big shiny red valve fitted as a fashion statement! I want pics.

 

[spinCycle]

Rather than putting a hole in your head, have you considered putting your head into a hole? This would seem to be more easily reversible if things go wrong.

 

[AcaciaConfusedYah]

Holey-Moley!

 

[Synkromystic]

Dont we have enough holes in our skull already?

Personally, I am satisfied with the amount of holes our creator gave us naturally

 

[anrchy]

Have you looked into alternative remedies for your headaches? There are so many things that cause em that drilling a hole in your head to me seems stupid. Just my opinion.