Discussion Unconventional self harm?

[yellowroses]

Wanted to hear from you guys and also vent, lately I've realized that I tend to self harm in I guess non-conventional ways?? I've never cut, but I used to scratch myself in one place until it was bleeding and raw, still have divots scarred all over my body from it. Lately I've also been overdosing on my meds just to make myself sick, as well as eating until I feel like my stomach is going to burst. probably other things too, can't really think of more examples right now though.

It's interesting and unfortunate how most forms of self harm other than cutting seem to get ignored, I remember telling my first therapist about the scratching and they basically told me it wasn't bad since it wasn't cutting (???)

Do any of you guys have similar experiences?

 

[psp3000]

It's interesting and unfortunate how most forms of self harm other than cutting seem to get ignored, I remember telling my first therapist about the scratching and they basically told me it wasn't bad since it wasn't cutting (???)

I find this interesting as well

especially when it comes to severity within each method and the competitiveness of self harm in some spaces (mostly online from what I've seen especially when it comes to cutting ex. in some spaces if they aren't "deep enough" you will be harassed or berated)

from my experience, I tried to do it in unconventional ways and even wished to do it in unconventional ways just because I felt insecure about using cutting as a coping mechanism since everyone sees it as a joke or phase or associates that method with teenagers and attention seeking

in some self harm discussions that I've observed online amongst adults they feel insecure and embarrassed about it too so some have moved on to different methods as well from what I've seen either out of insecurity or because sometimes methods don't feel the same or affect them or soothe them the way they used to

 

[yellowroses]

I find this interesting as well

especially when it comes to severity within each method and the competitiveness of self harm in some spaces (mostly online from what I've seen especially when it comes to cutting ex. in some spaces if they aren't "deep enough" you will be harassed or berated)

from my experience, I tried to do it in unconventional ways and even wished to do it in unconventional ways just because I felt insecure about using cutting as a coping mechanism since everyone sees it as a joke or phase or associates that method with teenagers and attention seeking

in some self harm discussions that I've observed online amongst adults they feel insecure and embarrassed about it too so some have moved on to different methods as well from what I've seen either out of insecurity or because sometimes methods don't feel the same or affect them or soothe them the way they used to

Interesting! I've never really been in those communities so I never thought about it like that, but it makes sense (unfortunately).

It's weird how cutting does tend to get that rep of being a "teenager thing", and yet in my experience that's the only form of sh a lot of people take seriously. I guess mostly just because it's the most notorious. And this isn't to mention SH through legal drug use. One of my friends smokes cigarettes as a form of SH, he told me even when he tells people he's just doing it to give himself cancer, he usually still gets the typical "well you should try to quit" response.

 

[Alltheywanted]

It's interesting and unfortunate how most forms of self harm other than cutting seem to get ignored, I remember telling my first therapist about the scratching and they basically told me it wasn't bad since it wasn't cutting (???)

Well, cutting might be lethal to you if you are very unlucky. You can also SH in some "safe" ways such as cold showers, holding an ice cube or even stabbing yourself lightly with a pen. I think that's why she told you "it wasn't bad since it wans't cutting", because there are way more destructive methods of SH. However it doesn't change the fact that she should have treated you professionally and take care of it.

 

[yellowroses]

Well, cutting might be lethal to you if you are very unlucky. You can also SH in some "safe" ways such as cold showers, holding an ice cube or even stabbing yourself lightly with a pen. I think that's why she told you "it wasn't bad since it wans't cutting", because there are way more destructive methods of SH. However it doesn't change the fact that she should have treated you professionally and take care of it.

I totally get it couldn't have killed me, but a big ass hole in my leg that was usually infected should have definitely been of more concern I would think.

 

[irie]

self harm really isn't just cutting and there are multiple methods, i've overdosed multiple times as a means of self harm, and sometimes i'll just not take care of myself enough (won't eat, sleep) to make myself feel miserable that way

 

[AllFoxedOut]

yes I've definitely engaged in unconventional forms of SH. starving, purging, alcohol consumption to oblivion, chain smoking, hitting, burning, promiscuity with men, cutting... there's probably more forms of SH I've engaged in but I dont recall any more at the moment.

 

[nessun_nome]

Wanted to hear from you guys and also vent, lately I've realized that I tend to self harm in I guess non-conventional ways?? I've never cut, but I used to scratch myself in one place until it was bleeding and raw, still have divots scarred all over my body from it. Lately I've also been overdosing on my meds just to make myself sick, as well as eating until I feel like my stomach is going to burst. probably other things too, can't really think of more examples right now though.

It's interesting and unfortunate how most forms of self harm other than cutting seem to get ignored, I remember telling my first therapist about the scratching and they basically told me it wasn't bad since it wasn't cutting (???)

Do any of you guys have similar experiences?

I scratch my skin away and keep at it so it gets progressively larger..

I also repeatedly smash myself around the head with bottles, irons, tins of food as hard as I can.

 

[ThisSillyMindofMine]

Exactly!! I would (and still do) always bite my nails until they are raw and bloody and then would move on to the skin. It has reached a point where I think my nails will quite literally disappear one day, they have gotten so small. I have no idea why, it is just compulsive I guess.
I've also taken up prescription med abuse lately. I know it's counter intuitive in every way but idk??????

 

[koitenchi]

I do the scratching and od things too, cutting is uncomfortable for me but tearing the skin feels good

 

[suicidalenby]

ive done scratching a bunch, specifically when i get put in the psych ward where there's nothing to cut myself with, one of the more creative ones ive done is using an eraser on my skin? which did a similar thing to scratching with my nail but faster,,
i also have punched myself until i bruised

 

[3ndl3ss-v0id]

Wanted to hear from you guys and also vent, lately I've realized that I tend to self harm in I guess non-conventional ways?? I've never cut, but I used to scratch myself in one place until it was bleeding and raw, still have divots scarred all over my body from it. Lately I've also been overdosing on my meds just to make myself sick, as well as eating until I feel like my stomach is going to burst. probably other things too, can't really think of more examples right now though.

It's interesting and unfortunate how most forms of self harm other than cutting seem to get ignored, I remember telling my first therapist about the scratching and they basically told me it wasn't bad since it wasn't cutting (???)

Do any of you guys have similar experiences?

I started to self harm when I was fairly young so over the years my life has revolved around causing harm to myself or self sabotaging. One of the most harmful things I've done to myself was forcing me to have sex with people I didn't know just to feel pain. I would let them do whatever they wanted to me as long as it hurt. That led me to places I wouldn't go and met people I wouldn't want to meet.

Another way of inflicting harm to myself is by starving. I sometimes don't even care about being skinny; I just want to feel some type of prolongued pain, and hunger is one of them.

Letting people hurt me so I can justify bruises or scratches also works and cigarette burns are easier to excuse than cuts.

All of that go alongside with cuts and scratches, but those are more common.

 

[NeedAnEscape]

Self harm is hurting yourself intentionally in whatever way. It comes in different forms and severities, but they are all methods of self harm. Someone is not 'suffering less' because they hurt themselves in a less lethal way. People mostly associate self harm with cutting, but there are more 'invisible' ways to harm yourself. I often say that I 'do not self harm,' but it's hardly the full truth. While I may not cut myself anymore, I still scratch myself, skip meals, and purge from time to time. I am hardly healed because I have refrained from one form of self harm.

 

[OreosAndDeath]

Well, cutting might be lethal to you if you are very unlucky. You can also SH in some "safe" ways such as cold showers, holding an ice cube or even stabbing yourself lightly with a pen. I think that's why she told you "it wasn't bad since it wans't cutting", because there are way more destructive methods of SH. However it doesn't change the fact that she should have treated you professionally and take care of it.

Funnily enough the NHS has told me quite a few times that I should take ice cold showers or hold ice cubes when I feel like self harming because "it won't actually hurt you"

On the topic of unconventional self harm I want to add biting the inside of my mouth, there have been times I've bitten so deep and torn so much of my mouth that I have to physically pull the lips away to tear the skin. I only stop when my mouth is too full of blood to carry on.

 

[hermestrimegistus]

Isolate yourself socially to the point it turns you feral. Starve yourself of physical affection. Cut yourself off emotionally. Keep your bad thoughts and feelings to yourself and push them down/deny them. Drink way too much. These are the unconventional methods of self harm I've been left with since I don't practice the traditional ones anymore. I don't recommend them to anyone though

 

[pompompurin]

Okay so one of my fingernails grows into my skin and eventually into my flesh so what I've been doing for a long time is basically pressing down on it to make it go deeper into the tissue and bleed, never thought of it as self harm until a few weeks ago.

 

[CinnamonFever]

I started SH at a very young age due to overstimulation; banged head on walls when the world got too loud/bright. Still do it but not as much, the headache really sucks, and in public it is a no-go. Began searching for other methods when I was a teen and, while I do cut, the brunt of it is the "small" and mostly unnoticable things a lot of people mention.
Smoking weed even though I'm a psychosis risk, and it makes my meds less effective; through the delusional/paranoid thoughts. Binge drinking without water/food when I'm already on a sedative. Skipping meals and telling myself I'm not worth the food. Isolating entirely some weeks/months as a CTB check.

 

[puella]

I go long periods of time without food or water. And I abuse sleeping pills to limit the amount of time I have to be awake for.

 

[SSamGarrison]

I mostly hit myself, which isn't extremely uncommon but less well known. I don't do it as much as I used to. I've tried cutting and I can never get myself to do it that bad

 

[deciduous]

I want to second getting into sexually abusive situations as SH. There's something about another human being's willpower to harm you. Once they realize they can hurt you in their service and you'll like it they can be so cruel, just driven to extract pleasure. The hurt they cause you is magnified even beyond its normal physical pain. Maybe it's just me - but I am left more deeply satisfied after hours of being fucked and throat fucked until I'm bleeding and throwing up than after any other pain.

 

[Forever Sleep]

I'm too squemish and too much of a wimp to really hurt myself cutting, scratching or burning but I will hit myself in the face and on the head when I'm really angry with myself. I whacked my head with a log once. If I unintentionally hurt myself, it can also feel quite satisfying too- so- I do understand the feeling of release with it.

 

[spacehardware]

Bloodletting was my SH for a good while. I didn't have the equipment or phlebotomy expertise to do it with IV cannula, so I would just go gung ho while cutting in specific areas I knew good veins were, then not stop the bleeding. It was really gory but I quickly became desensitised to it and lived a floaty iron-deficient existence for a while. Something about seeing the life force literally drain out of me was exhilarating and I liked that it turned a metaphor into something tangible.

It was really addictive though. It think all self harm is. I definitely have an addiction to self harm. Even now, with that all (mostly) in the past, nothing calms me more than pain.

 

[LetMeBeSad]

I smash my thighs with a wood shower brush. They are pretty much one big, deep purple bruise. I actually have staining from all the bruises.

 

[devian]

i know this post has been long abandoned im sure but does anyone else use diphenhydramine (benadryl), dimenhydrinate, or datura in excessive doses daily as a form of self harm? it causes immense brain fog/damage, chest pain, long-term hallucinations, and heavy heavy memory loss even far after a trip. no other substance causes long-term harm like this one and for no benefit. even while tripping you feel absolutely horrible.

i was sober for a long time (almsot 2 years) and then i messed up a little bit, tryintg to find my way. but the brain damage is there and i still am afraid of the dark. this specific for m of self harm because not only does it bring genuine pain for up to 6 hours at a time, but youre dooming yourself to endless chest pain, liver problems, and dementia. jsut wanted to see if i was alone in it