You have in your hand one of the few practical
resources for the self-trepanation enthusiast. Feels
pretty neat doesn’t it? Trepanation, as you may
already know, is the act of cutting a hole in the
human skull, an act that has been around for a very
long time, since 5,000 B.C. as a matter of fact.
SelfTrepanation, as you may have guessed, is the act of
performing this procedure on oneself. But why, you
may ask, would someone submit themselves to such
a procedure? The reasons are varied. In the past,
trepanation was performed on patients suffering
from fractured skulls, convulsions, and insanity.
More recently, the procedure is performed to relieve
inner cerebral pressure. There are other benefits
however. By removing a small portion of the skull,
internal pressure is reduced, giving the patient a
euphoric and calming felling that lasts with them
throughout their lives. The purpose of this manual is
to provide you, the handy do-it-yourselfer, a means
of obtaining this euphoric effect on your own with
very little cost.

Advantages
What possible benefits could you gain from drilling
a hole in your head? Well, good old Olaf had it right
when he used the word release to describe this
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practice as used by the ancients. The modern view,
although not necessarily recognized by doctors or
the medical community, is that trepanation will
relieve pressure on the brain resulting in relaxation
and a higher level of consciousness. Another benefit
derives from the satisfaction you gain by performing
this procedure on your own. No nerosurgeon or
doctor for you my friend, oh no! Finally think of all
the money you’ll save. Who needs to fly to Mexico
anyway, and do you realize how dangerous flying
can be? Not many people can say they’ve performed
surgery on themselves and you, my friend, will be
one of the lucky few.
Disadvantages
The most obvious disadvantage is the possibility of
injury or death. Of course, if this was really an issue
you wouldn’t be reading this book, would you?
Another possible disadvantage is the negative social
reaction you may receive. Let’s face it, people are
not always going to be as open minded as you and I
(no pun intended). Let’s not forget how cruel
children can be. Fear not! I will discuss this in detail
and provide some useful tricks and coping
mechanisms for dealing with the cruelty and closedmindedness of others.

Here is a quick list of the tools you’ll need:
• An electric drill (preferably cordless)
• 6 mm drill bit (preferably titantium)
• Antibacterial soap
• Bandages
• A clean mirror
• a magic marker
• Local anaesthetic (optional)

Choosing The Right Location For The
Hole

First things first, make sure you select a location for
your new hole carefully. Ideally, you will want to
drill in an area that is most comfortable for you, but
this does not mean the hole has to be in the centre of
your forehead. If you prefer, choose a spot beneath
the hairline. You may prefer this location as the hole
will be less noticeable when it heals.

Choosing the Proper Work Area
The best place for this procedure is the bathroom.
Bathrooms always have mirrors, which is essential
for an operation of this nature, and they tend to have
medical supplies too. Bathrooms also tend to have a
calming effect, which is a good thing. Most
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importantly, bathrooms are easy to clean (no carpet)
and there is running water and towels available for
an easy cleanup.

Preparing Your Head
Make sure the area you want to drill is clean and
sanitary. Some antibacterial soap or rubbing alcohol
should do the trick. If you are going for the discreet
look (under the hairline), you’ll have to shave off a
small patch of hair where the hole will be. Again
make sure this area is nice and clean, you don’t want
any hair to get trapped in the drill bit.
Preparing The Drill Bit
To sanitize the drill bit, wash with soap and water
(antibacterial soap if you have it). You can also put
the bit in boiling water to be extra sure, just don’t
burn yourself.

Preparing Yourself
Try to relax and think happy thoughts. This is
usually a good time to apply any local anesthetic.
Some people like to listen to relaxing music to calm
their nerves, whatever works best for you.

Getting Set Up
Mark the area you are going to drill using a magic
marker. Some people prefer an “X”, others prefer a
dot (don’t worry, the marker will eventually wash
off). Make sure your drill is plugged in or, if it is
cordless, make sure it is fully charged. Nothing ruins
a good trepanation like a powerless drill and a halfdrilled hole.
A few extra drill bits and an extra drill can come in
handy, especially if the drill or the drill bit breaks
Once you start to drill there will be a lot of blood.
Don’t Panic. panicking can make things worse and
fainting with a power drill is dangerous.

Drilling The Hole
Start drilling slowly at first and keep a steady level
hand. Use the mirror to make sure you don’t make
any mistakes. Apply slight pressure to the drill and
slowly drill the hole in your skull. Keep applying
pressure until you penetrate the skull. You’ll know
when this happens when the drill gives a little and
there is less resistance.
It’s important to do this as slowly as possible. Don’t
apply too much pressure or drill too quickly or else
brain damage may occur (that’s bad).
Once you no longer encounter resistance STOP!
Now reverse the drill and pull it away from your
head. Finally, apply several bandages and
congratulate yourself, you’ve just performed a
successful trepanation!