Discussion Self-harming purpose

[human909]

So i have been self-harming myself a bit from the last couple of days, i usually feel like this for me keeps me from saying anything hurtful or doing anything stupid. (example : throwing a chair to the otherside of the room) but then again i feel like it's hurting other people and it sucks. What do you guys think about this and why do you self-harm?

hope everyone have a good rest of their day/night.

 

[onthefence]

It sounds to me like you are using it to cope. Not the healthiest way but also not the most harmful.

I do it to cope with stress at times. This is usually bruising. Sometimes I don't even realize I'm doing it when I'm dissociated but I find them later.

Other times I do it for the endorphin high. This is when I burn. It's less messy than cutting and easier to take care of.

 

[ma0]

My reason is really stupid, but I do it to feel like my problems matter or are important. I've just always felt that other people's issues were more of a priority than mine, so I cut just so I can feel like my mental state means something.

To put it simply, I'm an attention whore.

 

[Bootleg Astolfo]

I have the emotional intelligence of a stale bag of potato chips, that's kinda just why in my case lol.

 

[cyclicism]

SH for me is simply a method to get my brain to shut off for once. Letting my whole consciousness focus on pain is such a sigh of relief whenever I really need it.

I've just always felt that other people's issues were more of a priority than mine, so I cut just so I can feel like my mental state means something.

I completely relate to feeling like other's issues are prioritized/"more valid." Your problems are important- comparisons never lead anywhere good.

 

[Atsushi.Ame]

ive definitely been struggling lately with anger management and the new urge to physically hurt other people, it sucks. I understand your reason for self harming. I have been doing it off and on for almost a decade now (yikes it feels weird to type that) and I would say that a lot of my reasoning clocked down to punishing myself. I used to hype myself up for it by thinking about all the things I hate about myself and everything ive done wrong and all the people that dont like me. In the worst of it- it was definitely more endorphins based and became a cope for stress.

I will say though, the time that I was recovered from self harm was a very nice period. It was hell and back to get there but it felt nice being freed from it.

Wishing you the best, wishing you peace, wishing you happiness.

 

[eattwinkiesseejesus]

For starters, personally I have always felt that what I do to my body is my business, I believe anyone using my sh against me to say I'm hurting THEM is a piece of and isn't worth my time or concern.

As far as why I personally do it, I don't have just one reason I believe for me I am killing multiple birds with one stone, as they say.
I do it cope with stress
I do it to quiet the demons in my mind
I do it for the pain high and the rush
I do it at times for attention
I do it to make my internal struggles seem real and validated. So many times I've been told it's all inside my head and made to feel crazy for what's in my mind, making the pain visible and seeing the damage helps me self rationalize and feel comfort that I'm not as crazy as they say I am, I'm just broken and need to heal.

 

[onmywaytothebusstop]

For me, it makes me feel normal and more clearheaded. It reduces my mindloops and satisfies the demons in my head making things more bearable. I have the same as you that it's preventing further damage and is probably a coping mechanism. At the same time i have done it during periods where i was more stable too.

 

[ihatemyselfsomuch]

The physical sensation of pain is much easier for me than the emotional pain I am forced to feel and "process". It's also a really good distraction from everything else in life.

 

[SadFoxDreamer83]

In my case, it was when I blamed myself for my situation... I hit my body and face with my hands until I hurt myself quite a bit. But since I blame the system for my situation instead of blaming myself, I haven't had self-harm crises again. We often blame ourselves, but if you think coldly about how the world and the shitty system work, you realize that it's not your fault.

 

[Blueberry Panic]

I self harm to feel something other then what's in my head and to punish myself

 

[VoidAetherium]

I suffer from bpd and when i felt someone is calling me or saying things i don't like about, a rage inside of me start to grow and grow like wanting to kill but i forcibly and hardly evoque this on myself or trying to break some object to ease this pain. Sometimes playing a game that is hard to confront too when i lose and die i felt the loser and pathetic can't endure so i harm and harm more. I used to play coop games alot like but due to this i had give up very much on it.

 

[NonEssential]

I remember I used to cut my thighs since that was very easy to hide and I liked the pain that not only was there when I cut, but also when I walked around.

 

[lonergirl_26]

I've been self harming for a very long time. It started as a coping mechanism. When I was really young 8-10 it was due to big overwhelming emotions. Then when I got older 11-14 it was release. I mainly did it before/during school because school caused the most stress and upset. Now I don't have specific reason I just do it for the sake of doing it. Sometimes I still do it as a release but it's very rare now.