Discussion anyone think self harm is actually viable?

[watashiwastar]

this is in no way shape or form recommending self harm as a solution. i am simply stating my experience.

don't get me wrong, it's not the first thing i recommend. but for people who are already addicted and can't stop like me, it's not a terrible solution. i don't cut particularly deeply (i'm too lazy to get a sharper box cutter) so i don't have scars that last too long. it's not expensive, it's convenient, and it's not too dangerous if you don't cut deeply. perhaps this is my way of coping with my inability to break free from an unhealthy coping mechanism, but that mentality is why i don't feel like i need to get rid of this addiction in the first place.

perhaps the shame i feel after self harming and having visible scars is a downside i'll admit, but i don't particularly care if it helps me get through another day.

 

[Sphinxi]

There are a few problems with this line of thinking:
For one, the problem with self harm isn't strictly physical as your point suggests. When you engage in self harm, you are forming a connection in your mind between hurting yourself and feeling better. This is not how your brain is supposed to work, pain is supposed to be dysphoric, and causing your body to submit to your mind in such a violent way is deeply unnatural. All of these problems manifest despite shallow cuts.
Also, it's common for people to restort to higher degrees of extremity with their self harm to chase the feeling they used to get. Anecdotally, I was like you for a while and only cut to the shallow epidermis, but eventually I went deeper and gave myself nerve damage, and I still haven't quite recovered from that. Your habit will get worse if you continue to indulge in it, so it's good to at least develop other coping mechanisms in addition to self harm to mitigate this.
I wish you the best, be safe, and don't cause permanent damage that would make your life less worthwhile.

 

[HopelessScientist]

this is in no way shape or form recommending self harm as a solution. i am simply stating my experience.

don't get me wrong, it's not the first thing i recommend. but for people who are already addicted and can't stop like me, it's not a terrible solution. i don't cut particularly deeply (i'm too lazy to get a sharper box cutter) so i don't have scars that last too long. it's not expensive, it's convenient, and it's not too dangerous if you don't cut deeply. perhaps this is my way of coping with my inability to break free from an unhealthy coping mechanism, but that mentality is why i don't feel like i need to get rid of this addiction in the first place.

perhaps the shame i feel after self harming and having visible scars is a downside i'll admit, but i don't particularly care if it helps me get through another day.

I don't think it does much if anything to help in most cases, but maybe it does, idk.

But I do believe the reasons for self-harm are usually tragic, bad, maladaptive. So, idc so much about the cutting, burning, hitting, scratching, biting, abusing drugs as self-harm, it's the causes for it that need addressing, and SH needs harm reduction

 

[watashiwastar]

There are a few problems with this line of thinking:
For one, the problem with self harm isn't strictly physical as your point suggests. When you engage in self harm, you are forming a connection in your mind between hurting yourself and feeling better. This is not how your brain is supposed to work, pain is supposed to be dysphoric, and causing your body to submit to your mind in such a violent way is deeply unnatural. All of these problems manifest despite shallow cuts.
Also, it's common for people to restort to higher degrees of extremity with their self harm to chase the feeling they used to get. Anecdotally, I was like you for a while and only cut to the shallow epidermis, but eventually I went deeper and gave myself nerve damage, and I still haven't quite recovered from that. Your habit will get worse if you continue to indulge in it, so it's good to at least develop other coping mechanisms in addition to self harm to mitigate this.
I wish you the best, be safe, and don't cause permanent damage that would make your life less worthwhile.

when i form that connection in my mind between hurting myself and feeling better, i form it in the most literal sense. that pain will signal my body to produce the dopamine i need to feel better again. i feel very unnatural already, so i do not find this a problem. there's definitely some connection with self harm and increasing self hatred, but right now my mind sees it as a cheap way to get happy. no money and time wasted like other addictions... i realise that this way of thinking is probably deeply problematic in some other way that i can't see right now, but my practical stance on self harm is honestly what's preventing any recovery

 

[Sphinxi]

when i form that connection in my mind between hurting myself and feeling better, i form it in the most literal sense. that pain will signal my body to produce the dopamine i need to feel better again. i feel very unnatural already, so i do not find this a problem. there's definitely some connection with self harm and increasing self hatred, but right now my mind sees it as a cheap way to get happy. no money and time wasted like other addictions... i realise that this way of thinking is probably deeply problematic in some other way that i can't see right now, but my practical stance on self harm is honestly what's preventing any recovery

I know what you mean. On the bright side, the prognosis on self harm is fairly high, so it's very possible that you are just employing this to get you through whatever it is that you're going through right now.