[WePow]

One of my SI behaviors is pin sticking.
It leaves the smallest mark but stings and gives me the release I crave after doing it for 10 min or so.

Is that REALLY any different from people doing acupuncture???

[granite1]

i think it is very differnt wepow.i think the difference is in the intent.why are you doing it?maybe you should try seeing a acupuncturist

[WePow]

I am doing it because cutting is too obvious to others..... :-(

[googley]

WePow-
I agree with Granite. I think it depends on the intent of doing it. If you are doing it for the poking, it is different than acupuncture where it is being done to relieve (at least my understanding of acupuncture) another pain or tension. Whereas poking yourself with a pin is to get the adrenaline rush that one gets when SIing.

[WePow]

It is just odd because while I am doing it, I think "There is no difference"
Both the person who goes for acupuncture and me are needing relief from pain.
Both of us are using pins to get the relief.
Both of us end up getting relief.
But only one of us pays to have it done!

I guess that is my bitterness comming out.

[granite1]

Originally Posted by WePow

It is just odd because while I am doing it, I think "There is no difference"
Both the person who goes for acupuncture and me are needing relief from pain.
Both of us are using pins to get the relief.
Both of us end up getting relief.
But only one of us pays to have it done!

I guess that is my bitterness comming out.

i wonder if you would get the same relief going to an actpuncturist as the needles anr smaller and you dont feel them.would you get the same satisfaction?

[Sannah]

I see your point WePow, both are to relieve pain, but acupuncture isn't for relieving emotional pain and SI is the second best thing to relieve emotional pain. The number one way is the healthy way, which you are learning in therapy. You had a very difficult weekend and I can understand why you resorted to the pins. I hope you get to therapy today so that you can resolve this with T. Please keep us posted?

[Detia]

Also they pick extremely specific spots in acupuncture. They also don't go very deep. The point of acupuncture is to hit specific points that will release relaxing chemicals and it's not meant to cause any pain at all. Where as sticking one's self with a needle is not quite so methodical, you could hit a vein or nerve and not realize that one was there.

I believe that is the difference. However I agree very mych with Sannah as well.

[Skully]

Yes WePow it is very different....what makes it different is the reason for doing it.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/...study-tells-us