[Berries]

I don’t meant to play semantics, but I have a question.
I see self destruction/self-sabotage as a different construct from self-injury.
Similar, yes. Destruction/sabotage and injury are both harmful. And both equally not mentally sound.
Self-injury feels more like a coping mechanism.
Self-sabotage feels more like punishment.
When I see the word self-injury, I think of self mutilation, or direct physical harming—on purpose. And self-sabotage, I think of harming yourself in the big picture and of harming your psych—on purpose.
Am I way off, here? What do you all think?

[Sannah]

I agree. I understand that people SI to release feelings, though, some have an element of punishment too. But I see what you are saying. Do you not want to take care of yourself because you deserve punishment? I think that a key question here is why you feel you need to punish yourself.

[Can't Remember]

I agree. My urge to cut is a very recent thing that only comes about when my husband is in a bad mood and I feel like a bad person and I need to punish myself. I don't do it to feel better just to punish.

[sujunew]

Originally Posted by Lbien6

I don’t meant to play semantics, but I have a question.
I see self destruction/self-sabotage as a different construct from self-injury.
Similar, yes. Destruction/sabotage and injury are both harmful. And both equally not mentally sound.
Self-injury feels more like a coping mechanism.
Self-sabotage feels more like punishment.
When I see the word self-injury, I think of self mutilation, or direct physical harming—on purpose. And self-sabotage, I think of harming yourself in the big picture and of harming your psych—on purpose.
Am I way off, here? What do you all think?

Yeah, I agree too. I choose very carefully how I phrase things or refer to things. Where I live SI is a term that is not used- self harm is but I prefer SI. I never refer to it as self mutilation. SI is certainly a coping mechanism, and I see injury as a physical thing and harm as more of a psychological thing...
Don't know if I made any sense.
ps This topic reminded of years and years ago when SI was 'unknown', trying to explain myself to medical ppl... the difference between wanting to HURT myself and wanting to KILL myself. No-one could understand why I would do these things and yet want to live.... (Totally irrelevant sorry lol)!!!

[Locust]

I think it depends on the person. Some people self injure for the pure purpose of punishing themselves. This is DEFINITELY NOT the main reason I SI (haven't in awhile, though!), BUT I think it is an element of it. But I see your point. Often, SI is done to cope, not directly to tear oneself down.