Ian,

If you can stop now please try. Although sometimes it works for me, it really isn't a good way to deal with things.

One reason why it doesn't hurt is because when you are injured (in any way) the brain releases endorphins, a natural chemical that makes you feel good. That is the body's approach to dealing with any kind of physical pain. If you are also getting relief from emotional pain this way, it might be enough to cancel out the physical pain. But once you start it just tends to keep getting worse. Later on you will regret it if you don't now. Please get some treatment for your depression. You deserve more out of life than this.

<font color=blue>Life is filled with tragedy; if you let it overwhelm you, you cannot enjoy life's innocent pleasures. -Robert Heinlein</font color=blue>