The Case Against Punching

[prettymenherachan]

I wanted to share my story to possibly save some others from what I went through. I often see people who are looking for alternatives to cutting when it comes to self harm. Naturally I understand where the allure of punching comes from. I myself began punching as a teenager because during a spiral or meltdown, it was the only way to regulate my emotions. In fact, it quickly became an involuntary reflex for me if I was alone, to punch my temples as hard as I could. I was not in a position where I could cut myself at this time.

To cut to the chase, I now live with severe chronic pain due to the whiplash I gave myself. Everyday tasks can be agonizing for me because I damaged my spine, and I could not receive adequate treatment because I could not tell my doctor the full truth of my injury without outing myself as a puncher. In the end, I had to begin self harming with a blade to wean myself off punching, and my physical health improved somewhat but I have done damage to my body that will likely be permanent. All from what could have only been a handful of times over ten years ago.

If you are not planning to end your life, please find any alternative to punching. Hell, even if you are planning to die, why spend your last days with chronic migraines and goose eggs? At the end of the day it is your choice, I am not capable of preventing you from punching via words on a screen, that choice is yours. However, I have seen some people on other websites treat it as a lesser evil than cutting because it "won't leave marks on your body," which is completely untrue; it may not leave marks on your skin, but I promise there is just as much scar tissue building up inside you as there would be if you cut.

Anyway, because I am a kind and saintly person, I will recommend my own alternatives to cutting besides punching. Personally I found great success in using icy hot or other topical sprays in large amounts, such that my body felt on fire. This would leave no permanent damage as long as I was careful not to apply it to the same spot too many days in a row, and didn't mind being unable to bathe the next day. Or, if you really much punch, try your other arm, your leg, anywhere below the neck.

 

[melon-melancholy]

Thank you for the alternative, I didn't know that punching could be so harmful. I only thought that extreme or much harder blunt force could cause that kind of trauma. Did anyone else in you life know about the self harm if they did how did you deal with them knowing?

 

[infinitanocte]

Anyway, because I am a kind and saintly person,

Sorry to be off-topic in a very serious and important thread, but this made me laugh XD Thank you, you are a very kind person indeed (I am being serious & sincere). I'm sure lots of people will benefit from you sharing your knowledge & personal experience! I hope your health will continue improving.

I think if it's very small shallow cuts then that's probably less long-term damage, but it seems like some people do cut quite deep.

 

[never mind me]

I think the problem about punching or otherwise hitting oneself is that it is hard to predict beforehand how much damage it is going to do. I started occasionally slapping myself in the face as an alternative to cutting a few years ago. And for several years I had no issues with it, probably because I felt quite good in general and therefore didn't slap myself that hard. However, this summer I overdid it a bit and after slapping myself repeatedly one afternoon I felt pain at one of my teeth. Luckily it was ok after one day. With cutting it is easier to control the amount of damage, if you take care to do only superficial cuts and use clean blades. I am only worried about cutting, if I spend time in a really hot and humid environment, because there I have had troubles with wound healing (unrelated to self harm).

 

[prettymenherachan]

Thank you for the alternative, I didn't know that punching could be so harmful. I only thought that extreme or much harder blunt force could cause that kind of trauma. Did anyone else in you life know about the self harm if they did how did you deal with them knowing?

I was discovered cutting by my parents only once. I now live alone. Those closest to me know I still self harm and don't judge me for it.

Sorry to be off-topic in a very serious and important thread, but this made me laugh XD Thank you, you are a very kind person indeed (I am being serious & sincere). I'm sure lots of people will benefit from you sharing your knowledge & personal experience! I hope your health will continue improving.

I think if it's very small shallow cuts then that's probably less long-term damage, but it seems like some people do cut quite deep.

Shallow cuts can heal within days, but they will still scar. I personally self harm on the same spot, roughly an inch of skin on my leg, so it just looks like a discolored patch of skin at this point.

I think the problem about punching or otherwise hitting oneself is that it is hard to predict beforehand how much damage it is going to do. I started occasionally slapping myself in the face as an alternative to cutting a few years ago. And for several years I had no issues with it, probably because I felt quite good in general and therefore didn't slap myself that hard. However, this summer I overdid it a bit and after slapping myself repeatedly one afternoon I felt pain at one of my teeth. Luckily it was ok after one day. With cutting it is easier to control the amount of damage, if you take care to do only superficial cuts and use clean blades. I am only worried about cutting, if I spend time in a really hot and humid environment, because there I have had troubles with wound healing (unrelated to self harm).

Yeah, when I was punching it was an uncontrolled force. Other methods definitely allow you more control. Obviously no method will be completely safe, that is why it is called self-harm after all, but there are relatively safer ways to do it.

 

[WirelessConnections]

I think the problem about punching or otherwise hitting oneself is that it is hard to predict beforehand how much damage it is going to do.

Definitely. I've only ever punched myself, never cut, but every time I've done it I always get shocked and scared at the pain, bruising, and swelling I can cause from what I thought wasn't a very hard punch. I think adrenaline makes it easy to underestimate since in the moment I'm just kinda doing it without thinking.