I guess I don't see why SI is necessarily such a bad thing. No, it's certainly not the best coping mechanism, but it IS a way to cope. I haven't been doing it very long, but it sure seems to help reduce my tension and I function much better because I'm not walking around in such a funk. I guess if I can feel the pain on my body, I don't walk around all day feeling it in my heart?? And I'm not self conscious b/c I use my scalp, so I never have to worry about anyone seeing - even my husband. So what's so wrong with this?

[SweetCrusader]

I don't know if "wrong" is the best word.

It's just that it's a temporary solution. It doesn't help you heal.

[Rapunzel]

I know what you mean. It's just that the longer you keep it up, the harder it is to stop, and it doesn't really solve anything, and it keeps you from looking for better solutions. Wow, did I say that? Ok, somebody repeat it back to me so I can hear it now.

[Rapunzel]

p.s. I don't think that it is bad or wrong. It just isn't the answer we sometimes feel like it is. Not long-term anyway.

[fgh]

Just because others don't see it doesn't make it right. i can do it on my thighs and the world doesn't see and i never have to show our T either when it's there. It does help with the pain. But i know it isn't right so that means it must be wrong. If someone else comes up with some way to help me so i don't even want to do it then i'll stop doing it. i really don't want to feel like a freak or have something to hide. For now it is still a way for me to cope. nona

[Zenobia]

I don't think it is wrong. It is a maladaptive coping skill that works. For me the reason to stop is that it physically endangers my body--even a small cut can become infected--and it emotionally endangers me. That doesn't make it wrong. If it did eating a donut would be wrong because a donut does the same thing. Eating a donut endangers your body by messing with your blood sugar and making excess weight gain a greater risk. It endagers your emotional self because the sugar and fat change the chemicals in your brain causing some people emotional upset.

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying self injury is no worse then eating a donut. I am just saying that there are many things we do each day that affect our mental well being that have as much affect on our brains but aren't thought of as wrong or bad. To put self injury in the realm of right and wrong sigmatizes it thus leads us to more shame which of course increases our need to use a coping mechnism that just isn't in our best interest.
Carrie

[fgh]

o that our doctor made sure long ago that i have to be safe when i cut... ya know clean the area and the item and all that and try to do as little damage as possible. i guess his care and understanding helped me alot to not have to cut so much. That and he backed off from pushing anyone from topics they weren't ready to talk about. i could eat a boxful of krispy kremes and not gain weight lol nona.