[XserenityX]

My friends are worried. They think that when I dig my nails in and leave little red marks that I am self harming. But the marks go away in an hour or two and I don't bleed. Is it or isnt it?

[MusicLover79]

Originally Posted by XserenityX

My friends are worried. They think that when I dig my nails in and leave little red marks that I am self harming. But the marks go away in an hour or two and I don't bleed. Is it or isnt it?

I do that, but I usually do it to break skin so I would count it as self injury.

[Samanthagreene]

I would define self injury as anything you do to yourself with intent to harm. Even if you don't classify this as SI per se, a month ago, all I did was dig my nails into my arm and leave marks and today, for instance, I nearly tore apart my room looking for something sharp to cut myself with because I didn't want to use a razor. It can escalate quickly.

[ThisWayOut]

Self harm doesn't need to draw blood necessarily. If you are doing it out of anxiety, or regularly do it when anxious or stressed, and the pain (or lack there if) relieved the anxiety, then it may be worth looking at. People head-bang, hit themselves, eat things that make them sick, etc and it can all fall under the category of self-harm. I think there needs to be intention to it tho - doing that behaviorn on purpose to help release or relieve the intense emotions that are making the person uncomfortable. But it's also an individual thing. I would suggest talking to someone about it if it concerns you.

[MercilessShadow]

I do this when I'm at work and I can't cut... my anxiety gets really bad at work. My T says its still self harm, but its better than cutting...

[bronzeowl]

I think there needs to be intention to it tho - doing that behaviorn on purpose to help release or relieve the intense emotions that are making the person uncomfortable.

Very much this.

I would think that some people might dig their nails into their skin on rare occasions when presented with a lot of stress. However, if you're doing it regularly and enough for your friends to notice, I would think it is a form of self-harm. Not all self-harm involves drawing blood. The intent is simply to cause harm to yourself for a variety of reasons (such as distracting your mind from the emotional pain or a desire to feel real).

When I can't cut for whatever reason, I either dig my nails into my skin or scratch myself. Sometimes, it leaves marks that last for 1-2 days. If you're concerned about it, I recommend speaking to someone about it. I don't want to say any form of self harm is better than another. As while physically, one might be 'safer'... emotionally, they can all be quite hard to cope with.

I wish you all the best.

[TheJettSet27]

Fiona Apple, a musician, used to do this. She still has dark patches on her wrist from it. But like everyone is saying, if you mean to do it to feel something/relieve emotions/release stress/etc. then it is self-harming.
By the way, bronzeowl, I love your little GIF of Gubler.

[IchbinkeinTeufel]

If it's harm that you delivered yourself, then it's self-harm. There is different severity, and plenty of grey areas, though. Still, something small like the nail thing, could, given the right situation, develop into something more, so be aware.