why do I deny myself pleasure?

Question

yes, I need therapy and will get it when I have the time, I just want an opinion on why one would feel like that

Answer 1

ur mental, lol, just kidding :) i don't know, maybe because u feel u don't deserve it or because it would lead to something bad

Answer 2

epicureans vs. the stoics

is pleasure good? is there a higher pleasure than the ones we are used to: sex and eating being the primary ones...by nature, we want pleasure, as the soul is really all-blissful. but in this world of duality, the pleasure we normally experience is a perverted reflection, a shadow of the real world which is our true home. Here, we are just exiles and strangers in a strange land. So, your attempting to deny yourself pleasure is a natural reaction to the pleasures of the senses, which are short lived and disappointing anyways. The Buddha's first noble truth is, everything is suffering in this world of birth and death. Many people have become, or attempted to become ascetics when they realize the transitory and fleeting nature of the senses. But real religion will lead you to the place where there is awakening pleasure of the spirit. I'm not there yet, but still on the path. peace

Answer 3

hey you answered my question about droppin it like its hot WHY DID YOU! SAY FORGET IT!

The most propabal cause is that someone earlier in your life caused you a great heart ache and a great deal of confusion by emotionanly attacking you for something you did or do.(making you feel guilty)
the reaction from this was maybe was guilt and denial of the guilt you felt.(thus Those with out sin should cast stones)
and if this may seem right we can't all be perfect and can't always make the right decision because we are not all knowing.

perhaps you deny yourself pleasure becuase of the condition in which you were raised. You may have seen others getting pleasure out of things that you yourself did not agree with.
thus leaving you with the doubt that you should have pleasure in doing things that you question might not be moraly right.
But with the question (is the thing you are getting pleasure out of
morally correct).
morals come from the society in which you live and the way you are raised. but just becuase society says do it and I'll ****** spank you doesn't mean they're right. actually they have never been right simply for the fact that society and its moral code are always changing.

but simply find ways that you will except pleasure and do those,

Answer 4

People create guidelines for their behavior based upon 1) experience and/or 2) social input (advice and example from others). Since the pursuit of pleasure/happiness can fall under social control, it is oftentimes one of the first 'barriers' we develop.

What is it about pleasure that you feel needs to be denied? And what kind of pleasure is it? Not all pleasures are ones we can or should indulge in beyond the mental imaginings of them. Also, who do you associate the pleasure with: what I mean by that is whose 'voice' is the one telling you to deny yourself? Is it your voice or is it someone else's voice that you've sorta taken in and accepted as your own?

Could be feelings of low self-worth (I don't deserve to feel good, be happy), feelings of guilt (why should I be happy when someone else is miserable), and/or just a general lack of sanctity of the individual that you are. Could be that others have 'blocked' your pleasure because it 'pleased' them to do so. Some people get 'pleasure' at denying others, so it could be you absorbed their 'denial' and took it at face value without being able to examine it.

Could even be a host of other different reasons (religious, familial, work-related) that could be interferring, could even be depressed. Its difficult to 'diagnose' someone from a single symptom.

Answer 5

Maybe you should try hedonism on an every-other-week basis and get some balance? After a couple of years you wouldn't need therapy, and would be on the road to,"all things in moderation."

Answer 6

Sometimes people have a subconscious notion that they don't deserve things. (Happiness, pleasure, love, etc...)

It can be caused by different things, such as a parent telling them they didn't deserve things when they were young, or even being picked on a lot during school years.

Answer 7

It sounds like to me you don't think you deserve it and may be punishing yourself.

Answer 8

More people should be like you, don't knock it. You are disciplined and self controlled

Answer 9

Maybe you are protecting yourself.
Keep on respecting yourself!

Answer 10

You are unsure of yourself.