With Regards to Self-Harm

[Emissary Laito]

But there are ways to do it "safely." The therapist my grandparents made me see when I was a teenager actually made me take a Saturday morning class that was basically "If you're going to do it, here's how to do it with the least risk."

Wow, seriously?
I've never heard of anything like that before.
That's actually a pretty good idea.

 

[Ambi]

I noticed some obviously self-inflicted scars on my friend's arms and chest. I already knew she'd tried to commit suicide before so it didn't come as a shock.

What it represents in the eyes of most people is nasty and sinister. Although you might take it lightly, it's not a nice thing for people to see. It's easy to trust yourself but to other people it's like watching a child trying to be a stunt artist.

I hate when some people treat it as an emo kid badge of honour because they intuitively know it suits their image. It's not cool.

 

[badgersprite]

The problem is that almost every self-harmer I know escalates it, because it's something that is at some level beyond their conscious control. It's really not fun knowing that someone you care about could suddenly burn themselves or smack their head against a wall until it splits open or commit suicide. Yes this really happened and happens with people I know.

It's scary.

 

[101flyboy]

If the word "harm" is involved, and you are doing it to "self", than obviously the two together tells me that this is a negative, and not something I would want myself or anyone to end up doing. There isn't any positive in self-harming yourself.

It can be fun?
I'd say that counts as a positive.

It's an empty fun. Because you feel like crap again after that rush when you cut and bleed is gone. Then you feel the need to do it again, and again, and again, constantly seeking that high, never in a normal state of mind, body and soul. Constant cutting will lead to health issues. And, your emotional pain never goes away, it's still there, you are just overriding it with physical pain. Now, you have compounded your problems. And as those emotional demons continue to fester, how much pain will it take you to hide it? Usually, it leads to suicide, as the pain just gets to be too much.

 

[MeputthecaninthebininHL2]

I encourage self-harm BECAUSE of the risks, the more people who die from it means they can't pass their twisted ideas onto the next generation.

 

[Zhukov]

Quite frankly, inflicting intentional damage on one's own body is rarely a sign of a healthy mind.

As for why people react strongly... well, that shouldn't come as a surprise. You are doing something that is contrary to instinct and is considered by many people to be mildly abhorrent. Imagine if you were to come across someone punching themselves in the head. I doubt your first thought would be, "Oh look, that person is just engaging in some harmless endorphin-driven recreation."

Speaking of endorphins, if that's what you want, why not take up jogging and/or join a gym? You get pain and endorphins aplenty with the added bonuses of strength, fitness and a sexy body.

 

[BrassButtons]

I think 'self-harm' is being used too broadly here. That term usually refers to people who harm themselves as a way of coping, and is a sign of more serious psychological problems. However someone who hurts themselves may not necessarily fall into that group, just as someone who drinks may not be an alcoholic. That doesn't mean self-harm is never worth worrying about, just as the existence of responsible drinkers doesn't mean alcoholism is never worth worrying about.

As to why people freak out about self-harm more than drugs or alcohol, it's because they don't understand it. Most people have a strong desire to avoid pain, so they don't understand how anyone could deliberately hurt themselves (whether it be self-harm, masochism, knife play, aesthetic body modification, or any other reason I may have missed).

 

[AtillaBosma]

I have stopped and advice people not to do it.
Done.

 

[EightGaugeHippo]

I have done it myself, not because of depression, but because cutting releases endorphins which quells pain.

The act its self dosnt hurt much more than a light pinch, so its a good way to deal with physical pain when pain killers are not an option.

I have no objection to people doing it for this reason.
I also dont mind if people cut themselves for attention, just so long as they sterilize the blade first.

 

[ElTigreSantiago]

I will start off by saying there is no way in hell anyone is going to believe you aren't an emo if your avatar is an emo and you post a thread like this. Just saying.

Anyway, there's a reason our bodies feel pain. It's our brains' way of telling us that something is happening that is dangerous to our bodies and we need to put a stop to it. And cutting is indeed different than smoking. All the info in the world supports that smoking kills you, but it doesn't directly and visually kill you everytime you smoke. It became as popular as it is today because people haven't always known that it kills you. Causing direct bodily harm, however, is an entirely different story. It is basic human instinct that you don't want anything penetrating your skin. The second you do, you feel pain, you bleed, and your brain asks you what the hell is going on. It directly and visually causes damage to your body. If you find enjoyment from this, there's a problem.

 

[Count Igor]

I do it occasionally, maybe when I'm bored. But not to be crazy and stupid, but to toughen myself up, and make sure I can take the pain.
..
That's normal, right?

 

[Count Igor]

I do it occasionally, maybe when I'm bored. But not to be crazy and stupid, but to toughen myself up, and make sure I can take the pain.
..
That's normal, right?

Wouldn't it be better to slam your arms and fists into a rock or a tree like how Karate practicioners in Japan do if you want to toughen yourself up?

Actually, I punch trees and walls when I get the chance, but the self harm thing is when I'm not near any tree or wall.
I mean, I can't exactly punch a wall in the middle of the lesson.

 

[Count Igor]

Well.. you always can..

Eh. If I get that crazy I can always fight the whole school.
That'd get me much more tough!

 

[SideburnsPuppy]

Or, if you need endorphin flow, you could, you know, work out or something. That doesn't usually involve...blood.

Sorry, the hemophobe in me is acting up again. I feel sick now.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

Well, it's harm. I'm not a big fan of smoking either, and that's probably less harmful than what self harm could escalate to. The problem with it is that 90% of the time it's done out of self-loathing or depression. It's a pretty short-term cure for depression, but then, self-loathing and depression aren't always things you feel like sharing with the world. Hell, if people I know knew about the various patches of old scars on my body then I would flip a nut.

But, anyway, that's a different tangent. Self harm is harmful (call me Sherlock), and it could easily go wrong and cause more serious injuries, way more than smoking. I would not advise it at all.

 

[PeePantz]

Self-harm is a massive problem.

It usually signals a deeper issue, and if left unattended, can lead to death.

75% of people who commit suicide self-harmed in the week leading up to their death.

I don't think cutting oneself is the problem that leads to suicide. These problems may manifest into one cutting themselves but the act does not lead to suicide. It provides a good visual warning that a person might be suicidal. A can equal Z. AB can equal Z. However, B alone never equals Z. Always need A.

OP, while I personally detest most cutters and the drama that always follows them, I don't think what you're doing is necessarily wrong. Many people get tattoos or piercings because they enjoy the pain. They just would rather have something other than naked scars to show for it.

 

[Emissary Laito]

Heh. Took me a while to get around to doing this thread again, so I'll answer what I think I should.

It's an empty fun. Because you feel like crap again after that rush when you cut and bleed is gone. Then you feel the need to do it again, and again, and again, constantly seeking that high, never in a normal state of mind, body and soul. Constant cutting will lead to health issues. And, your emotional pain never goes away, it's still there, you are just overriding it with physical pain. Now, you have compounded your problems. And as those emotional demons continue to fester, how much pain will it take you to hide it? Usually, it leads to suicide, as the pain just gets to be too much.

I didn't feel like crap in the first place, and I'm actually a pretty happy person.
I don't feel the need to do it over and over again, in fact I don't do it at the moment.
This isn't true at all dude.

I encourage self-harm BECAUSE of the risks, the more people who die from it means they can't pass their twisted ideas onto the next generation.

So... you think like this, and you think self-harmers are the ones with twisted ideas?
Nice.

I will start off by saying there is no way in hell anyone is going to believe you aren't an emo if your avatar is an emo and you post a thread like this. Just saying.

Anyway, there's a reason our bodies feel pain. It's our brains' way of telling us that something is happening that is dangerous to our bodies and we need to put a stop to it. And cutting is indeed different than smoking. All the info in the world supports that smoking kills you, but it doesn't directly and visually kill you everytime you smoke. It became as popular as it is today because people haven't always known that it kills you. Causing direct bodily harm, however, is an entirely different story. It is basic human instinct that you don't want anything penetrating your skin. The second you do, you feel pain, you bleed, and your brain asks you what the hell is going on. It directly and visually causes damage to your body. If you find enjoyment from this, there's a problem.

Heh, I should probably change it for the moment, but its the one I generally use with this name.

Maybe that's why its not as popular as smoking, because not as many people enjoy it.
But I disagree with you about it being a problem if you do enjoy it.

I actually have a fairly low pain tolerance.
Had to be really careful when I cut so that I didn't go over that line.
I would not take pleasure in doing a lot of damage to myself.

However, I also wouldn't judge anyone who did take pleasure in that.
Their decision really. As long as they've thought it through.

Also, since knowing that smoking was killing me would wear on my mind, I'd just consider that its a different form of pain it inflicts.
They still seem more or less the same to me.

EMO is short for EMOTIONAL.
EMO-Boys can be very very attractively cute looking.
I doubt you're coldhearted but that's beyond the topic.

What you described is why those who cut themselves do it.
Those who feel bad cut themselves because it makes them feel good.

I love your avatar <3

Heh, I know. I meant as in the stereotypical emo way.
I'm not cold-hearted at all.

Also, thanks.

I don't think cutting oneself is the problem that leads to suicide. These problems may manifest into one cutting themselves but the act does not lead to suicide. It provides a good visual warning that a person might be suicidal. A can equal Z. AB can equal Z. However, B alone never equals Z. Always need A.

OP, while I personally detest most cutters and the drama that always follows them, I don't think what you're doing is necessarily wrong. Many people get tattoos or piercings because they enjoy the pain. They just would rather have something other than naked scars to show for it.

Ah, I don't self-harm at the moment. Past tense on that dude

;-]

Thanks for replying to Pirate Kitty, you said what I was going to say pretty well.

And huh.
Didn't know that people did that actually, although it makes sense.

 

[Erana]

[quote="Pirate Kitty" post="18.250159.9255091"
OP, while I personally detest most cutters and the drama that always follows them, I don't think what you're doing is necessarily wrong. Many people get tattoos or piercings because they enjoy the pain. They just would rather have something other than naked scars to show for it.

Well, there's exhibitionists who self-mutilate for the sake of garnering some sort of attention, but a surprisingly large amount of people who do this try to hide evidence of their behavior. In college, a model for a life drawing course had old scars all down her arms. She made a statement in the first class that she cut, but stopped.
I thought it was a damn brave thing to do, sitting there naked with something that people could so easily judge her for. It was all ruined, though, when I had her in a class a year or two later, and quite a few of those scars were re-opened, and she had a sleeveless shirt on.
I try to have empathy for people who do such things to themselves, but I am put off by attention-seeking mutilation.

 

[neoontime]

What are you suggesting really. I mean I ask that you may be the exception and.....?

 

[PeePantz]

Well, there's exhibitionists who self-mutilate for the sake of garnering some sort of attention, but a surprisingly large amount of people who do this try to hide evidence of their behavior. In college, a model for a life drawing course had old scars all down her arms. She made a statement in the first class that she cut, but stopped.
I thought it was a damn brave thing to do, sitting there naked with something that people could so easily judge her for. It was all ruined, though, when I had her in a class a year or two later, and quite a few of those scars were re-opened, and she had a sleeveless shirt on.
I try to have empathy for people who do such things to themselves, but I am put off by attention-seeking mutilation.

Oh, I agree totally. Some people, you would never know this about and keep it totally hidden. I have a weird respect for these people in the way that they realize they're fucked up but don't want any attention drawn to them.
Also, that girl might have been attention seeking if she's showing up to be drawn naked all scarred. I only question her intention due to her actually not stopping and exposing her wounds to the world on the date you later mention.
I just feel this fad has gained a lot of steam in recent years especially with middle class to upper class teenage girls. It's almost purely for attention and it really is annoying. I've had some crazed attention whores for girlfriends that were recovering "cutters", and it's just so silly.

Also, I just looked at your profile, Happy Birthday in a couple of days!!