Euphoria – A Greek State of Ecstasy

The Phenomenon of Ecstasy -1933 -Salvador Dali

Euphoria, an overwhelming, pleasurable, emotion, is an ancient Greek word, a noun, from the Greek “eu”, meaning well and “phero”, meaning to bear, or, to carry.

The opposite of euphoria, is dysphoria, a feeling of anxiety or depression, from ‘dys’, meaning misery, sadness, or wretchedness and again, ‘phero’, meaning to bear, or, to carry.

The original meaning of the word euphoria was introduced into the English language in around 1750, as a medical term used by doctors to describe a feeling of intense happiness and well- being which arose through being in a state of good health, in other words, to feel healthy.

On hearing the word euphoria today, our state of health maybe the last thing that comes to mind, on the other hand though, someone having experienced euphoria, may well believe they need to see a doctor!

What is Euphoria?

A state of euphoria

Euphoria has been described as a form of madness, likened to being in a trance, or fervor, even an exaggerated mania or delirium.

Euphoria – A state of abandonment

When asked, people who have experienced this powerful sense of elation, may tell you that they felt as if they had been lost or transported somewhere else, to some dreamland, a never land, a heaven on earth; an out-of-body experience.

Euphoria – An out of body experience

Euphoria could mean sensuousness, a sense of sheer bliss, a feeling of being blessed, of enchantment or rapture.

Brassaï, Le phénomène de l’extase, 1933

What Causes Euphoria?

What causes this walking on air feeling, this glow, this dream of being on cloud nine, or in seventh heaven sensation?

Migraine sufferers have reported that hours, sometimes maybe even days before a migraine attack, they have experienced a sense of euphoria, the same can be said before the onset of an epileptic seizure, a case of ecstasy before the agony.

Fasting may bring about the impression one is flying as high as a kite, or has been plugged into a high voltage energy source and of course, we have all heard of, if not experienced, the drug – induced ‘high’.

As high as a kote – Toshiaki Kato – Fly Me Away

Asphyxia can cause Euphoria; intentionally induced temporary asphyxiation, such as choking games, strangulation, a holding of breath and erotic asphyxiation have unfortunately led to many deaths, which are often mistakenly thought to be suicide.

Susan Seubert, Asphyxiation #16, 2017, metal photographic print

On a lighter note, activities such as dancing, laughter, erotic encounters and listening to music are known to bring about this staggering, breathtaking, sometimes paralyzing ecstasy.