[Brian37]

I hope no one will be offended, but when I read these posts about people who cut themselves, I dont understand.....why on earth would you cut yourself or injure yourself in this way??

[bchlyn]

i am sure if you have read the posts you understand how much pain the people who do cut are in... there isn't one answer to your question... there are as many reasons as people who self injure... but it is my opinion that self injury is self injury... cutting is just one form... if you really are interested there is a lot of information on the internet... lyn

[Lenny]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Brian37 said:
.....why on earth would you cut yourself or injure yourself in this way??

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

To quiet the more profound pain..

IMHO.

Lenny

[Perna]

It's partially an unconscious "system" neurochemistry thing, it literally relieves anxiety/psychic pain:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15576335

http://www.dandsassociates.net/healt...elf_injury.htm

Chewing one's fingernails to the quick so they bleed is a form of self injury, "why" does anyone do that? It's the same dynamic going on.

[Lenny]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Perna said:
Chewing one's fingernails to the quick so they bleed is a form of self injury, "why" does anyone do that? It's the same dynamic going on.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

Yep.

As is the self abuse associated with substances...

IMHO..

Lenny

[somebodysomeday]

because it HELPS....

((somebodysomeday )))
only for a short time imo

[Fuzzybear]

(((((((((((( somebodysomeday ))))))))))))

[x_BabyG_x]

I agree with muffy, it does help but only for a short time.

Cutting is an addiction, we do it, it makes us feel better, its hard to stop.

Like any other addiction I suppose, why do we do them? Just that this one is less acceptable to people

BabyG xxx

[splitimage]

People self harm for many reasons. Often it's to relieve emotional pain. For others it's a way to come back and prove themselves alive through a dissociative episode. For others it's a way to cause them selves to dissociate. For many people its an alternative to suicide. There are many resources on the web that discuss self harm. The Secret shame website is a particularly good resource. Here's the link. http://www.palace.net/~llama/psych/injury.html

[Kiya]

why do ppl drink themselves to death?
abuse drugs?
speed race/ drag race?
take on any form of action that results in harm (or could)?
self talk badly to themselves?

it all covers pain, it hides the person, it makes them feel alive, or keeps them from death.
humans are strange animals.
the questions becomes - why do you have revulsion?

[Brian37]

whats revulsion?

[Kiya]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Brian37 said:
whats revulsion?

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

in your original post you wrote: "I dont understand.....why on earth would you cut yourself or injure yourself in this way?? "

what is beneath the question? just curiosity? No - what is beneath that? "why on earth" indicates there is more than just not understanding. and "in this way" seems to suggest that other ways are "acceptible" and this way is not.
it is simple - if one looks deep enough, under such a question is revulsion (even perhaps if it is not admitted to one's own self). it isn't a bad thing - it is just important to be aware of. To further reference such a question, reading "Girl Interrupted" would be a good start. Don't watch the movie - there's more drama and the good questions aren't asked the same way.

[Brian37]

I dont think I can ever truly understand this self-injury thing....but I appreciate your responses and insight....

[Jully]

Brian, I am glad you don't understand "this self-injury thing," as you call it. Maybe none of us can give you any real insight into it...not more than you could gain by doing a Google search and just getting some basic info. In my experience, it is very difficult for someone who has never lived it to "get it." I don't understand many things from an insider's perspective, but I try to be understandING.

I think the "feeling" issues and dissociative issues have been addressed by others.

Perhaps try understanding this:

When a person injures themselves, peptides called endomorphins are released to the brain. Endomorphins are powerful natural opiates which produce a calming feeling. BIOLOGICALLY it is a soothing mechanism.
Also, because of these peptides, many people never feel actual pain when cutting themselves.

[bchlyn]

brian... i started si when i was about 9 years old... it was kind of by trial and error... i found that if i hurt myself by squeezing something sharp in my hand... i could refocus on that pain and not feel what was happening to me... and i started doing it more and more... it wasn't something i just woke up one morning and decided to do...but i did learn that i could go away by doing it... very much like an alcoholic finds that they can numb out with alcohol... lyn

[Brian37]

once agian thanks for the responses....I've read some interesting things on the internet, so i feel better informed and understandING

[Kiya]

Hey Brian - here's an article i came across that may be helpful to you - especially if you want to be a support person for someone who injures.

http://www.psyke.org/history/200003/...rticles13.html
Hope the link works.
kiya

[mlpHolmes]

Thank You for the link KiYa! I learned a lot. I've been an SI'er a very long time.

[Kiya]

((((((((( mlp )))))))))
hope you are doing well out there in your corner of the world
=) Kiya