What's so wrong with it?

I don't see what's so wrong with self injury. As long as it's not severe to the point of being risky, it hold no more danger for the person than slipping and scraping your knee.
Why the stigma? Why the idea it's an unhealthy method of coping?
So many people do self-destructive and yet perfectly socially acceptable things.

I do not feel the need to stop, I do not see the reason to do so.

But I sincerely want opinions, just because I don't see a reason for it to be "bad" doesn't mean it isn't, and if anyone has a solid explanation, I'd love to know; maybe I'm just deluding myself, really.

Hello,

I'd like to start off by saying that I'm not trying to convince you that you're wrong, because it seems pretty clear to me that you've somehow convinced yourself that self-injury is perfectly OK. I believe you are in denial, but that won't be changed by reading some stranger's opinion. That being said, this is what I personally think about self-injury:

For me, I once thought it was a healthy option, as opposed to merely ending my life. However, it's not a good coping skill. There's the obvious reason that physical damage could occur that requires stitches, or cuts/scratches could get infected. For me, I never got to that point, but all of my scars have stayed with me and I have to live with that. So the fact that it's a potential health hazard is one negative aspect.

But the bigger thing for me is that, when someone numbs by self-harming, using drugs, drinking alcohol, or whatever it is, they are clouding over the true issues. I think it's crucial that the person figures out WHY they're cutting/scratching/burning themselves. Why the need to feel physical pain? Usually, it's due to emotional issues inside that need to be addressed. For me, it was during times of deep depression, or suicidal thinking, that I would grab the knife to distract myself. Seeing the blood was a temporary comfort.

Key word: TEMPORARY. It did not last long at all, and the guilt/pain I felt afterwards was way more than that small amount of so called "comfort". So, I got help, figured out why I cut, and what triggered it. Came up with healthy coping skills/activities to do when the urges came up, activities that I truly enjoyed!

I haven't cut in about 6 months now, hardly feel tempted, and when I am, I do a little inner detective work to figure out what triggered me. Yes, self-injury does have a stigma. It is not as well understood as other negative coping mechanisms...there is the unfortunate "emo" label out there. But it is a serious issue, whether you think so or not. I hope that, in your own time, you will see that self-injury is not a solution.

Hmmm, yes, I totally understand what you're saying, and you're absolutely right, but I DO think it's not as bad of a temporary solution as it is made out to be, although I do think that one needs to solve the problems that cause them to try and cope with self injury, it's not self injury that is the problem.

The emotional issues are a problem and your life will be much better if you get these solved.

I believe that people who don't si, don't understand what really is going on. People don't like what they don't understand, and therefor the stigma. Life would be better without the si, true, but it's getting to that point.

Coping is Coping ~ Dr. House on House, M.D.

But feeling happy is something we always search for. If happiness includes not si'ing then, a lot of us will seek happiness.

That's my thoughts anyway.

Here's what I think. When I started up 8 years ago, I didn't think I would get bad. I told myself that I would just do small ones, and hey, I probably won't continue, it was an expierement. But then as the years went by, it got worse and worse. I then accidentally cut (long story) but it was really deep, and I realized I could go deeper, so I did. I did more and more, my whole thigh was covered. I used to do it on my arms, but that was noticeable, so I had to move to a place that I knew never would be seen. As I kept going, I stopped because my parents found out. I stopped for 18 months, but I slipped up a few days ago.

Basically, what I'm saying, is it is wrong. I think that way because no matter how you do it now, it can, and probably will, get worse. (When I say 'you' I'm not exactly talking about you partically, I'm just talking in general to anybody.) You will begin testing your limits and see how much you can get out of it. Some people are in it for the pain, and others the blood, and some other reasons. With the pain, someone could try more things just to get more pain, and the blood, someone could go deeper, just to get the satisfaction.

You have to begin hiding your body, that is, if you don't want people to know. Can't wear bathing suits, short sleeve shirts, shorts, anything that exposes your skin. You think about it every second of the day, you bring sharp objects with you everywhere you go. It starts to consume your life. You'll be in so much pain, emotional and physical, that you'll shy away from everybody. You won't want to talk about it because you're afraid of people's reaction.

The reason why it's not really socially acceptable I think, is because you don't do it with another person normally. You do it by yourself, somewhere that you think no one will see you. With drugs or alcohol, it's usually done with other people. Usually, but not all the time.

Basically, it's a coping method gone wrong. It may help you cope, but sooner or later it'll destroy you. You'll become a completely different person. You'll never be truly happy. And then, when and if you do stop, you'll always think about it. It's an addiction. You'll always have urges, you'll always be a cutter, but it's how you handle those urges that make you who you are. Just like alcoholics, they'll always be an alcoholic, but when they stop, they have to do things completely different.

I'm sorry if this makes absolutely no sense, haha. There were just many thoughts going through my head and I just jumbled them into paragraphs.

Also, one more thing, is when someone you care about or they care about you, finds out. It can bring SO much pain to them, and when you realize that, you will end up hurting also. The mindset of someone self injuring is usually they want to hurt themselves, because they feel they deserve it, not other people. But when other people start hurting because you are doing that to yourself, then you feel so ashamed and distraught, because you didn't want that happening. But sooner or later, it probably will.

I do understand what you are trying to say. I do agree. I cut myself but not so deep. I don't cut deeper. I still feel alright if I scratch myself. It won't do anything to me. It will get rid of my emotional pain. However, it can get addicting and might be a way to cope. You may want to cut deeper so you can feel better from it. If someone cuts deeper, then there is a risk of hitting a vein or damaging something. Even infected cuts are an issue too. I remember I cut myself with a really sharp knife and I split my skin open a bit. I was shocked. I didn't get it treated though. It's your choice. You can do whatever you want. It's your life and your choices.

I used to ask the same question ... "I already got scars there is no point of stopping.. there is no one who gives a damn about me so no possibility of anyone finding out and getting 'hurt'... infection/accidents arent a big issue idc if i die anyway.." Over the years I've come up with an answer of my own
1 - the obvious one - it leaves really bad scarring. annoying if u cant wear shorts/shirt/uniforms/performance dress code etc
2 - Bad coping mechanism, like alcohol - 'well if drinking makes you happy whats wrong with drinking' Because with both drinking and SI you don't address the actual problems, so it grows and grows. SI made me feel better from pain but never truly "happy", and you end up just sit there watching your life slip away and go to waste.

Good question. Why is the knife worse than the bottle?

The main stigma is INCOMPREHENSION. People just don't understand.

Most people have some experience of alcohol. The advertiser's message is that drinking means fun and friends. It is easy to pretend that no one is getting hurt.

But no one can have any illusions about SI. It looks self-destructive and it is.

I had the same questions, and personally felt that smoking was worse than not-so-serious si, since smoking harms not only the smoker, but also other people and pollutes the environment. I had this mild desire to be able to just go out and show my scars visibly without other people giving it a second look.

I kind of realized the difference when some of my friends saw my fresh cuts last month. One of them said sure, they may just be cuts, nothing serious, but what they were really concerned about was that I could do that to myself, and possibly worse things in the future. I think maybe what makes si different from smoking and other more accepted stuff is the intent. We actually want to hurt ourselves. I don't know.