that's actually something a tattoo artist told me when i was getting my first. he had noticed the cuts on my stomach around where i was getting it done, and he talked about how it's a socially acceptable self-harm release, getting body mods. only instead of creating scars and relics of pain, you can create art.

shame that cutting is free and tattoos/piercings aren't. i'm sure getting my nipples redone would curb my pain needs for a month.