Discussion Self Harm being a great coping mechanism

[Aphid]

Generally, I've self harmed most of my life since I was young. I don't understand why there's so much pushback against cutting bruising or general self harm.

 

[LonelyPrince]

Might not be the greatest coping mechanism but I never really understood myself why there is so much pushback against this method.

I believe it's because people don't understand the concept of actually wanting to hurt yourself. People who don't feel horrible and don't need to cope see this as insanity and I can't blame them: why voluntarily cause damage to your own body?

It's the same thing with suicide, which is seen as taboo because humans fear death and can't immagine an individual causing their own death voluntarily.

I love cutting and hurting myself because my pain finally becomes something external. My mental illness finally can manifest physically.

 

[Aphid]

I love cutting and hurting myself because my pain finally becomes something external. My mental illness finally can manifest physically.

Exactly this. I feel it's just a good way to view the internal pain, it's almost like an exchange. To rid oneself of internal pain it must turn external