SK, I do not think self destructive is an emotion. I think it is compulsive thought you have in response to certain emotions that you find intolerable. The compulsion to think about SH is your way of attempting to regulate yourself even when you don't act on the impulse. If you ruminate on doing that thing you put in the trigger, you won't think about the things that are actually causing you pain. If you actually SH, you then take part in that ritual and then deal with the consequences, but not how you were feeling. It is all compulsive avoidance of your emotions.

I know about this. I am an expert in compulsively avoiding all sorts of things, my emotions included.