[tallen01]

Anyone else do this? Over the past couple days I've begun cutting myself for fun. I did it earlier today because i was upset over a grade but other than that it's been out of boredom and for fun. I haven't done anything deep or to harmful yet.

Ive self-harmed… but i didnt do it for fun. I know life can get hard but cmon dont beat yourself up to bad. Life will get better. Please try talking to your parents or a therapist about this. Its ADDICTIVE… so please try to stop.

[tallen01]

What makes it so addictive, strictly out of curiosity. I don't have parents and really don't want to bring it up to my therapist. She is a university therapist so I don't know how great and understanding she is. She has a phd but seems to be use to very mild cases of mental illness.

[usrname]

I think it's possible it's not just for fun. Self harm is often a coping mechanism. You said you used it in response to a stressor before, but boredom or apathy can stem from stressors as well, and even if you feel calm when you're self harming, it's still doing something for you (like releasing stress or serving as an unhealthy grounding mechanism). People normally self harm for the same reason but it can evolve over the time, especially if it turns into a coping mechanism.

Some people do self harm for other reasons. I dissociate before self harming and spent a lot of time with my therapist figuring out what motivated my SI when the urge is there like all the time anyway. We still don't know. If it's not a coping mechanism for stress, it could be a way to punish yourself too. It can also be related to your relationships with other people, like wanting to scare or punish them or gather sympathy. Entertainment seems like an oversimplification of your motivation, this seems like something a therapist could really help you figure it. Sometimes, you don't need to fully understand the why in order to stop, though. Good luck!

Self harm is a way for coping with your problems. It allows you to express feelings you cant put into words. It also distracts you, or releases emotional pain. After you might feel better, like your "in control." But really self harm is controlling you. Because then painful feelings return and you get the urge to hurt yourself again. You deserve to feel better tallen and you can get there without hurting yourself, okay?


Do you live alone…or?

[tallen01]

No im engaged but she doesn't know I started cutting. She will probably find out though because I did it on my deltoids. She knows I've started going to a psychologist though.

Hmm well Im glad your going to a psychologist, hopefully that will help. I hope things get better for you, and know im always here if you need to talk.

[tallen01]

Thank you

[usrname]

Sorry my post wasn't published until the conversation moved on. Self harm is literally addictive, which is why a lot of my suggestions involved creating the same chemical sensation (with the cold shower) or physical action ("cutting" with a red pen). My therapist always talked about it like an addiction and I recommend approaching it like a legitimate one. I think yours should have dealt with self injury a lot, but she may react in a kinda extreme way because she works for a school :/

I wouldn't say I've ever done it, " for fun"
i'd say it distracts me from stuff though, like... I could do this thing I need to do or watch a movie to relax, or I could just cut, it makes me feel good

Originally Posted by tallen01

What makes it so addictive, strictly out of curiosity. I don't have parents and really don't want to bring it up to my therapist. She is a university therapist so I don't know how great and understanding she is. She has a phd but seems to be use to very mild cases of mental illness.

i'd say it's diffrent reasons for diffrent people

for me, it's because of the blood

I like to think that the guilt/ uglyness/ hatred is washing away with the blood

I also hate my body, and find making myself bleed is a release when it comes to that, too

alternatives don't seem to work for me.

I mean, i've tried stuff like the rubber band on your wrist, but what good is that when you crave the blood.

I find letting juice from strawberries (or anything else red) run down my arm, sort of works, but it's not as satisfying

[tallen01]

I like the way it feels and watching the blood come out. But I don't think I'll do it anymore. I don't want to start a new habit and lose control (I have OCD). Plus if my psychologist or doctor finds out I don't know what they will do.

Originally Posted by tallen01

I like the way it feels and watching the blood come out. But I don't think I'll do it anymore. I don't want to start a new habit and lose control (I have OCD). Plus if my psychologist or doctor finds out I don't know what they will do.

That sounds like a good idea tallen! Its not worth it.

[crimsoncat]

Originally Posted by tallen01

Anyone else do this? Over the past couple days I've begun cutting myself for fun. I did it earlier today because i was upset over a grade but other than that it's been out of boredom and for fun. I haven't done anything deep or to harmful yet.

I am sorry to say that i find your post inapropriate and offensive to the many who battle with self harming due to intolerable pain and as a coping mechanism to stay alive ,there is so much misunderstanding and stigma surrounding it already ,and tbh I actually thought your post was some kind of sick joke . just being honest

[tallen01]

Originally Posted by crimsoncat

I am sorry to say that i find your post inapropriate and offensive to the many who battle with self harming due to intolerable pain and as a coping mechanism to stay alive ,there is so much misunderstanding and stigma surrounding it already ,and tbh I actually thought your post was some kind of sick joke . just being honest

Im sorry. And I guess I should of clarified it was not strictly for fun.. Most of the times that I cut was due to a trigger