I am saying this with a lot of caution as I know for many people the very mention of the word "attention" brings up negative thoughts. Too many people associate that word with being selfish when referring to people who are depressed, self harm, or suffer from any similar disorder. Which isn't fair. It is human nature to want those you love or those you expect to care to notice when something is wrong. That does not mean you are selfish nor does it mean you're an "attention seeker" by the definition most people seem to associate with the phrase. I think that thinking wanting those close to you to notice is a "bad" thing is just a stigma. One we face too often. An unfair one that creates the stereotype of the spoiled emo kid (not that being emo is bad - just pointing out the stereotype I encounter so often when someone sees that I do it).

All that out of the way, still erring on the side of caution, I do believe that some of us do want those we love to notice. Some others (perhaps a smaller number) may want just anyone to notice. Whether this is a conscious desire or a subconscious desire, I'm not sure. I want to say that it would vary depending on the person. And there is nothing wrong with this. As someone who has self harmed since I was eleven, I know it is a hard habit to just quit on your own. I recognized something was wrong a long, long time ago. But I still have not been able to stop. So, yes, I want someone to notice. Not because I want all attention on me. Not because I think the world revolves around me. Push all those stereotypes aside. The real reason is simple:

I want help.

Am I saying this is your case? Not exactly. It may or may not be. I cannot know what your subconscious or conscious mind is doing. Nor can I know why. What I am saying is that if you DO want someone to notice, you should not have to feel bad about it. Let go of the stigma that surrounds self harm and forget about the stereotypes.