Discovering SH in this forum

[iamsadandinnocent]

Idk about SH, I have only seen it with people who got rejected by girls and did it, but I see people doing it for years here, I am not judging, but why do you do it, Like I have self harming tendencies but I don't think I can ever cut myself, and why SH is mostly done by women here

 

[WEIRDOOOXDDDD]

Self harm is a coping mechanism and when it isn't its an addiction. People SH because they feel like they deserve it or some cut because they feel like it relieves mental pain, but after cutting guilt kicks in and then you cut again because of that (not the same for everyone) why mostly women cut I don't know probably because of the oppression, SA or insecurities? I can't say for sure I'm not an expert at statistics but that would be my speculation

 

[nooneyouknow]

personally I do it because it feels like i can breathe every time I do it. my shoulders and chest no longer feel heavy and it gives me a clear mind. I've been doing it on and off these last 6 years give or take, trying to quit again but honestly that feeling of clarity will always bring me back to it eventually. It's relieving and I don't ever do anything extreme, just cat scratches. I don't need to go deeper to get that feeling of calm.

 

[iamsadandinnocent]

personally I do it because it feels like i can breathe every time I do it. my shoulders and chest no longer feel heavy and it gives me a clear mind. I've been doing it on and off these last 6 years give or take, trying to quit again but honestly that feeling of clarity will always bring me back to it eventually. It's relieving and I don't ever do anything extreme, just cat scratches. I don't need to go deeper to get that feeling of calm.

What you feel calm after SH, like it shifts your focus from other things to your wound, so you don't think of those things or it relieves you in some way, that's a unique thing I have read today

Self harm is a coping mechanism and when it isn't its an addiction. People SH because they feel like they deserve it or some cut because they feel like it relieves mental pain, but after cutting guilt kicks in and then you cut again because of that (not the same for everyone) why mostly women cut I don't know probably because of the oppression, SA or insecurities? I can't say for sure I'm not an expert at statistics but that would be my speculation

If it's SA, then I kind of understand the thought process they go through, damn that's bad, I wish no one has to go through that

 

[nooneyouknow]

What you feel calm after cutting yourself, like it shifts your focus from other things to your wound, so you don't think of those things or it relieves you in some way, that's a unique thing I have read today

It definitely helps shift my focus from emotional pain to physical. Emotional pain has a lot more of an effect on me than a simple cat scratch, it's like an actual exit for my emotions almost. The stinging feeling and then blood showing up is easier to stomach than my sadness. I enjoy watching it. It also sort of validates me in my emotions and the validation feels relieving as well. Its very addictive

 

[Mäximum]

Statiscally speaking, women are more likely to SH physically (cutting etc.) while men more often fall back to substance abuse. I can't remember why that is though.

 

[finalgoodbye:(]

Statiscally speaking, women are more likely to SH physically (cutting etc.) while men more often fall back to substance abuse. I can't remember why that is though.

Because of the fall of the Ottoman Empire

 

[Mäximum]

Because of the fall of the Ottoman Empire

You're right! Why didn't I think about that smh Long live the eternal state!

 

[StupidCat]

I sometimes hit myself out of frustration or anger but always instantly regret it because it hurts.
Just adding more pain to my life seems counterintuitive to me too. I want to minimize the pain, not add another layer of it.

 

[EvisceratedJester]

Around 35 percent of men self-harm and that percentage might be higher than that due to underreporting. Along with that, cutting is a more popular SH method amongst women compared to men (men are more likely to engage in things, such as headbanging and hitting) and they are more likely to care for their wounds. A lot of the SH discussions on here are usually from cutters, some of whom are either looking to cut deeper or are needing help with taking care of their wounds. As a result, it can give the illusion of there being way more women on here who SH compared to men, since most people who cut are women. However, the gender distribution for SH might be different on threads where people discuss other SH methods, especially the ones where people are discussing non-cutting SH methods.

 

[PrincessSaturn]

but I see people doing it for years here, I am not judging, but why do you do it, Like I have self harming tendencies but I don't think I can ever cut myself,

I started when I was 12 as a way to punish myself and my parents. Sort of like a "Look what you're doing to me. You're hurting me so bad it's making me crazy." I was also friends with the 'emo kids' growing up so I was constantly around people who cut (or sometimes burned themselves) and we could all kind of relate to one another.

Unfortunately I think it turned it into an addiction, because nothing quite calms me like a blade to my arm. (I've tried a lot of things over the years). I also don't bruise easily so hitting myself isnt as satisfying and takes too much work. My mind won't quiet until I give it what it wants (a blade).

Before I started cutting it shocked me that someone could do that to themselves but now here I am; using razors, knives, tweezers.. pretty much anything I can get my hands on if I feel the urge.

I quit cutting at age 19 and was clean for about 5 years but I suppressed the urges so long that relapsing almost felt like a way to reclaim who I really am. I know it sounds edgy and cringe but I don't care to hold back anymore. I don't regret relapsing, and I love the look of the red swollen lines on my wrist. And maybe someday I will lose the urge or find the strength to stop, but relapsing felt inevitable to me.

tldr; started as a coping mechanism and a cry for help as a child, turned into an addiction and a way to soothe my emotional pain as an adult.

 

[iamanavalanche]

its the only way of releasing emotional pain and also i find it as a way i can call for help if anyone noticed. but srsly no one cares lol

 

[vira]

Idk about SH, I have only seen it with people who got rejected by girls and did it, but I see people doing it for years here, I am not judging, but why do you do it, Like I have self harming tendencies but I don't think I can ever cut myself, and why SH is mostly done by women here

couldn't tell you why its mostly women, but i can tell you why i do it.

its mostly for the process. i like cutting open my skin and looking inside, or just mutilating myself in general. i also like bandaging it up, and the pain that it leaves when i walk around. i used to bloodlet as well, i can't really say why. i just find it interesting, and its better than hurting people or animals (which sometimes haunts my mind, but i shut it down immediately, im not evil, lol). its hard to explain when i get a new psychologist every once in a while. it doesn't interfere with my life or impact me negatively, thats why i haven't stopped. for me its like a hobby, if that makes sense.

 

[PrincessSaturn]

for me its like a hobby, if that makes sense.

makes total sense. (to me at least).

I view it the same way we view pro-choice in this forum. If you enjoy it, and know your limits I personally don't see it as entirely a bad thing. But maybe I'm wrong for thinking that idk.

 

[vira]

I view it the same way we view pro-choice in this forum. If you enjoy it, and know your limits I personally don't see it as entirely a bad thing. But maybe I'm wrong for thinking that idk.

thats how i view it as well! scarification is done in certain tribes and not looked down upon as harshly, which i find unfair. its a conscious decision, and im a grown woman, i should be able to choose whats safe for me. i can protect myself when i need to, and if i needed it, id get the scars treated.

 

[Merocero]

I self harm because it makes me think about my issues less, physical pain is easier to manage, but also I feel like it became an addiction,,

 

[synthetic_suicide]

I am 40M and I've started SH a few months ago, never did it before.

Recently it has seemingly become my only effective way to cope...pain is unbearable and SH gives me a break from pain, that's pretty much it for me.

As for the method, I burn myself, usually with an incense stick.