Why do people self harm

[notthatguy]

I'm sorry if the question is insensitive and it's my first time posting.

 

[FuneralCry]

I don't do such a thing, but maybe it's a relief for some people, like it's a coping mechanism for them to deal with their suffering.

 

[Gaga786]

Hello, I hope you're doing well. I used to self-harm quite a lot at age 13. It eased my pain like it granted me relief knowing that I deserve it. Throughout my life I have always been that runt, that loser, and a failure so it allowed me to project those feelings and thoughts onto myself. Although, I did stop doing it once I turned 18. I realised that it wasn't worth it and self-mutilation would always result in weird looks from others, given that they won't be able to understand, and my own family members.Hence, it was a coping mechanism for me
I hope that answers your question.

 

[Viranamari]

I don't do such a thing, but maybe it's a relief for some people, like it's a coping mechanism for them to deal with their suffering.

Yeah that's the main reason why. If they can't CTB at least they can harm themselves in one way.

 

[domedune]

There are a few reasons one may self harm. I don't cut because it sounds too painful and the thought of cutting into veins is gross. I've bitten myself to distract from other physical pain or psychological pain. I also psychologically self-harm by researching depressing or enraging things. Psychological self-harm can be used to distract as well. My psychological self-harm usually comes from a sense of guilt or duty. Sometimes I feel selfish not wanting to read about the horrible things other people are going through. Even if I'm never going to talk to them or help them, even if I would be more productive/altruistic using my time in a different way, I feel compelled to "inform myself" on awful things I already know about. Some people approach physical pain similarly (see self-flagellation).

Don't get me wrong: you should inform yourself and listen to those who are suffering, but you don't need torture yourself with information you already know, and it's better to change your behavior than wallow.

 

[Tomie]

To prove to myself and others that my suffering is real. It's hard for me to put my feelings into words, so I just "carve" them on my body.

 

[jodes2]

Some people just want to feel something. I guess distracting from emotional numbness.

Also some people want blood, or physical pain, to mirror what they're feeling inside. Or to make the effects visible. Just having emotional pain and bottling it up is too hard for some people. Seeing physical effects helps ease the discontinuity between what they're feeling, what they're seeing, and what other people could see. It's like a way of releasing feelings they've kept hidden for too long, not been able to express

 

[kaipuff]

i do it to get a sense of relief because im too scared to ctb currently. i don't have access to anything that i need. personally, just doing it to get a high for just a moment or two.

 

[notthatguy]

i do it to get a sense of relief because im too scared to ctb currently. i don't have access to anything that i need. personally, just doing it to get a high for just a moment or two.

Hi thanks for sharing your story, how did you start or where did you get the idea to do it?

 

[kaipuff]

Hi thanks for sharing your story, how did you start or where did you get the idea to do it?

i started when i was really young, around 10 or 9, since my parents thought i was just pretending to be "ill" to get out of school. i don't really remember where i got the idea from, i just knew i wanted to die but i.. didn't at the same time. i might've got the idea from unsupervised internet access maybe? i started with little cuts but as i got older the untreated depression got more aggressive per se
appreciate the thanks

 

[CrystalR]

There are many reasons why people may Perdue self harm. Some people do it as a way to have some sort of control over their life while others do it because they feel they deserve it. Some people even feel gratification from the pain.

 

[Vitya]

Sometimes I look in the mirror and can't tell what I see. I don't feel like I am human at all. Something the pain of the cutting is the only thing that reminds me I am

 

[Electronic Music]

Yeah that's the main reason why. If they can't CTB at least they can harm themselves in one way.

Yup, its the situation I'm in currently. I can't ctb in the situation I'm in, due to my own choices. Right now I need to be alive for a few reasons I wont elaborate on in this post. However, SH helps know I'm still in control in some strange way. Its difficult to explain it properly but it is incredibly relieving to feel and perform. I havent really been doing SH for a long time, but as time goes on I feel myself get more impatient having to continue living, and SH helps the process. Hopes this helps explain a bit to the OP.

 

[dogbreath]

used to self harm whenever I felt weak and upset as a way to "prove" I was strong. It provided a sense of control in a way. Only reason i stopped was cause other people started noticing ://

 

[wastingpotential]

it's a coping mechanism for me, like an outlet for my emotions when i repress too much or i get shoved away anytime i do try to open up

 

[Fwompje]

I selfharm because I like how it feels, keeps me in reality and allows me to get out of a crisis in which I might do worse impulsive things.

 

[mothman._.]

I'm sorry if the question is insensitive and it's my first time posting.

it's a grounding exercise, it makes me feels things and reminds me im real

 

[vultureilse]

i have trouble with handling my emotions and i tend to take my anger out on myself because i hate myself. self destruction is comforting to me. also i just like bleeding

 

[GrippySocks]

I'm addicted and it makes me feel something. It's actually very cathartic too, which makes it dangerous because I go deeper and deeper to chase that feeling and end up in a hospital bed by the end of the day. To anyone thinking about trying it, I strongly advise against it because of how addictive it can get.

 

[redisblue]

Many reasons: To feel control, to feel that quick high or some form of positive emotion, to let out emotions that I have held in for too long, if in that moment I believe I deserve it, or like more recently, a cry for help or to prove that my suffering is real - sometimes there isn't even a reason. There are so many different reasons that I do it and so many reasons for why I did it in the past. It just depends on how I'm feeling in that moment. I've been addicted since I was 12 years old, and I'm not sure I'll ever get out of it. Self-harm usually just ends in feeling guilty among many other things, I don't recommend starting since it's difficult to get out of.

 

[Vuliex]

I'm sorry if the question is insensitive and it's my first time posting.

At least for me, self harm is the extremist form of grounding or stress relief. It is expression yet my case isnt everyone elses!

 

[mushroomhive]

at first, it's because physical pain can force your brain to focus on it instead of your thoughts. eventually, though, it just becomes a habit and addiction, something you do even when you arnt nessacarily sad. that's my experience, anyways.

 

[jacarandash]

it used to be a way to relieve pain for me until i started therapy. i stopped for a long time. nowadays it is impulsive, i'll be feeling fine and the next second i'll be sitting on the shower floor with my facial razor that i use to shape my eyebrows

 

[Ghostofthepast]

I did it been several months clean somehow but I did it because to me it's the one thing I can 100% control in my life and the pain makes the other pain go away even if it's only for abit and I honestly Hage how my body looks and who I am so it's what I deserve it's what a ugly body deserves

 

[kitkat7777]

I wanted to feel pain and it was a release for me emotionally

 

[SleepingGirl]

I think it's likely different for everyone. For me I have two reasons: I'm in so much mental pain that physical pain takes away from that mental pain, the other is pleasure which a lot of people find immoral but whatever, it's my own body.

 

[Viranamari]

Yup, its the situation I'm in currently. I can't ctb in the situation I'm in, due to my own choices. Right now I need to be alive for a few reasons I wont elaborate on in this post. However, SH helps know I'm still in control in some strange way. Its difficult to explain it properly but it is incredibly relieving to feel and perform. I havent really been doing SH for a long time, but as time goes on I feel myself get more impatient having to continue living, and SH helps the process. Hopes this helps explain a bit to the OP.

I hope things getting better for you and thanks for adding on to my point.

 

[SilentSuicidal]

People self harm to have some sense of control, or to have a way to release pent up emotions. There's many reasons as to why someone may self harm and it's not the same for everyone.

I used it as a coping skill to deal with my sui thoughts, but It kind of changed during the years. I use it as a way to make myself worse, I'm going to kill myself anyways and self harm is helping with that. I'm damaging my body from the blood loss and nerve damage.

 

[prim]

i do it because it shows that i actually feel something as i do not cry often

 

[KatyushaHanging]

I'm sorry if the question is insensitive and it's my first time posting.

For me, it's catharsis. it helps me cope with the shit I deal with.