Discussion Is self harm selfish?

[Leonard_Bangley39]

i started cutting on my arms a couple months ago. the only people who knew about it was my friend online who has been through similar stuff. they asked me to stop but i didnt, even though i promised i would. recently my sister who im staying with at the moment saw my cuts and freaked out and is signing me up for therapy. my family already knows about my suicidal ideation and how i was planning on killing myself a couple months ago, but none of them know about my cuts except for my sister now.

everyone who knows about my cuts always worries and asks me to stop. i havent cut in maybe a week or two because of it, but man i really want to. I want to just stop caring about what everyone will think if i cut again and just do it. I really like doing it, i like seeing the blood run down my arms and onto my towel, i like seeing the skin separate, i like picking at the scabs afterwards, i like looking at the scars on my arms, i like the stinging and burning feeling afterwards. i just really want to cut, but i know everyone around me doesnt want me to.

 

[IwantSN]

I don't think self harm is selfish. It's your body that you're damaging after all ,not theirs. As long as you are fully aware of what you are doing and of the risks and consequences of it and you're ok with that, I think it's fine,but if you want to avoid making your friends and family worry maybe stop telling them about it and hide the cuts or cut somewhere less visible. At the end of the day no one but you can decide whether you should continue cutting yourself or not. Either way I'm sorry that this situation has caused you so much stress and worry

 

[Forveleth]

Most people use it as a coping mechanism, albeit not a good one. I would not say it is selfish unless it starts directly affecting other people (they have to clean yp after you, you cancel obligations to aelf-harm instead, etc). Some might say the negative emotional state of those in your life who know is unfair however, I find those reactions are usually anger and those people do more harm than good to the person they "care about". I would not make assumptions about the specific people in your life, that ia just a general pattern I have found.

Obligatory reminder to always practice good aftercare.

Self-harm aftercare guide

CONTENT WARNING! detailed talk about wounds, medical/anatomical terms, mention of diseases/infections, mention of self harm (obviously), etc. this thread is in no way encouraging or promoting self harm. the primary purpose is to promote harm reduction. I am not a medical professional, do note...

sanctioned-suicide.net

 

[SufferingDev]

I don't get the point of SELF harm being selfish in looks of others. It's a "you" thing

 

[MicahBell]

I think it is selfish. but not everything that is selfish is bad. its also selfish to ask somebody to stop their coping mechanism for your sake without offering them real help, isn't it? everyone is selfish from time to time and its your body

 

[BrainSplatter]

Personally I don't think it's selfish like someone said it's your body but if you were bragging posting it online or showing others who are clean now but had a previous history of sh and wanted to intentionally trigger them that is what I'd say is selfish. I self harmed today no one knows I stopped the bleeding and dressed it myself. I feel some relief but not enough it's never enough…

 

[kufajoy]

No