Chills down the spine

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Very occasionally, especially when watching a movie or reading a book, I feel a strong chill going down my spine.

This chill is a very pleasant feeling and it is usually linked to epic/heroic/courageous actions in the movie or book or, more generally, moments of intense positive emotions, with characters having the courage/strength to do THE-RIGHT-THING (TM).

Is it something that you have ever experienced ?

It never happens to me in "real life", only when I watch movies or read, which I think may be because I can relax more when I don't interact with "real" people, and can then feel stronger emotions.

Would say that quite possible.

For example, me, I am able to understand social situation when I am by myself then when I am living them in real time, since when I am by myself I don't have a good part of my brain dedicated to the interaction going on.

I get those too, only with movies. I've had it during either very emotional scenes (end of Sixth Sense, recently, the romantic-sad part) and sometimes in action / drama movies when the hero just does something out of the blue that's plain awesome.

Great feeling, isn't it? Makes for a memorable, lasting impression.

Oh, and I've had it while reading, but only once, at the end of the 7-book series by Stephen King "The Dark Tower".

i get it from movies/music ive always wondered how many people had this, dont know anyone else who has ever mentioned it.

I get this when listening to certain types of music.

I get this when I'm studying or doing something I enjoy. It always happens when I'm alone. It also happens when I think about my special interests. I think primarily in pictures. So when I imagine myself studying my special interests I feel the chill go down my spine. I have this activity that I do every day. It involves studying something related to my special interests while drinking coffee. I take time to reflect on what I have learned in between studying sessions. I sip my coffee and I become absorbed in the moment, and my desk lamp gives off a very warm and pleasant relaxing vibe. I then feel a chill go down my spine accompanied by a slight euphoria. It is sometimes strong enough to make me have to go to the bathroom. It's a great feeling.

Although we all have quite different experiences with this feeling, I believe it is physiologically the same feeling, provoked by psychological mechanisms that are activated by the different activities we do, such as reading a book, studying, listening to music, etc.

Last edited by Abstract_Logic on 08 Aug 2009, 9:52 am, edited 1 time in total.

I admit I do feel a chill from time to time, by mine only go slightly down the down the spine, mostly stick to shoulder and inside the head for me.

From crowds if they are postive and united, such as a concert or a demonstration. To the point of crying.

I get it too from various things, I've always wondered if it's because I feel so much empathy.

I always wondered about that. When I am really involved with something a book/movie, I get chills all over my body, as a strong emotional reaction. I always thought that was SO weird.

I get the same chill down the spine when moved by a strong emotion in music, an especially heroic section of a book or movie and so on. I sometimes get a really potent version where my entire body spontaneously goose bumps. It goes from the top of my head all the way to the hairs on my toes and everywhere in between. It is a really weird feeling and some of the few times that I ever feel like cheering out loud.

I get that sensation going down my spine sometimes, but more often going up my spine. Music or movies can trigger it, but often it occurs with no apparent cause. The sensation can last from as little as several seconds to as much as a day. It is usually pleasant, though becomes a distraction after a while.

I used to only get those occasionally, but these days i get them a few times i day.. for no apparent reason. Sometimes it's all the way down my spine, but a lot of the time(like someone else said) it's mostly only the upper part and will make me jump, shrug my shoulders, turn my head, or something. It seems almost like a tic or something a lot of the time, but it doesn't really bother me.

I never noticed whether they were "up" or "down," but they are the most awesome feeling in the world.

I can get them during movies, but they are most intense during music, especially if I am playing music and it's just really, really good. The tingling becomes sort of an overwhelmingly good feeling. Once it was so intense it was almost hard to keep playing.

And yes... it's better than sex.

The chill down the spine is a great feeling. It happens to me when something resonates to my core, and usually comes as a surprise.

When I was a kid we used to induce this spine chill in each other. If I remember correctly it can be brought about in the following way: Knock gently first on the right and then on the left side of a person's upper back just below the shoulder area and then quickly and gently run your finger up their spine. The person will usually shudder pleasantly with that chill or thrill.

It happens occasionally at emotionally significant times books and films but most of all music. Most reliable example would be:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qx2lMaMsl8[/youtube]