Wow Carrie - that is really interesting. I definitely agree - who here hasn't felt more "alive" or euphoric right after an adrenaline rush? It's the same reason, I think, that I got addicted to speed (thankfully I've been clean for a year now and have zero intention of ever taking that stuff again.....yech....so horrid) - you get addicted to that 'high' feeling. Self-injury leads to biological self-medication in a sense.

As for treatment, one thought I have would be to try the anti-depressant Wellbutrin. Wellbutrin is very different from most anti-depressants in that it contains dopamine re-uptake inhibitors and has proven very successful in treating addictive behaviors. I'm about to start it to help me quit smoking.

Here's how it works in relation to addiction: When you become addicted to something, either an action or behavior such as smoking for instance, your body becomes used to this action as a part of "normal" function. If you take away this action, your body goes into withdrawal and triggers cravings. When you 'reward' your body by performing the behavior, your brain thanks you by releasing dopamine, which makes you feel good - it makes you feel more energetic, more alert, and generally better. Wellbutrin works by making your brain hoard dopamine - that way, you constantly feel as if you are getting the reward, but without performing the action. For smokers, it takes away the severe anxiety and irritability that comes with nicotine withdrawal. For people who self-injure, it very well may keep you from spiraling into the vicious cycle of cutting to feel better - both by helping the depression and by tricking your brain into thinking that you performed its preferred behavior.

Thoughts?

some of it's magic
some of it's tragic
but i had a good life all the way......
~jimmy buffett