Think of it like eating a chocolate cake by yourself. It’s bad for you. You will regret it. People will make fun of you if they find out. But sometimes life sucks so bad you just have to eat a chocolate cake by yourself.
Because the physical pain temporarily detracts from the emotional pain that is being suffered. And for some people, to see blood tells them they are alive if the numb feelings are too overwhelming. It then can become habitual.
In the end it’s basically just fun. It’s intense stimuli for a mind that’s deprived… Much like when you cage a parrot up and it starts to pluck out it’s feathers due to stress.
You’ve got a storm in your head but no one sees that. You look at yourself and you look fine. So some part of you wants to reflect those wounds onto yourself so there’s actually something wrong. Other then that you feel you deserve and it distracts from other pains. Some people like looking at blood others like to see the layers of flesh.
No, in the long run you’ll not feel better and may even have to adapt to living a life with the possible permanent physical and psychological effects of such a negative coping mechanism (scarring, judgement, concealment, reduced mobility, infection etc.). It may be wise to avoid the addictive nature of self harm before it becomes a crutch and an extremely difficult cycle to break. Try to adopt a beneficial and positive coping mechanism, one which offers similar levels of relief without the dangerous consequences.
What do you enjoy? coping mechanisms can come in all forms. Sometimes we don’t even know what we may take pleasure in without first experiencing it, it can help to try new things and see what sticks.
There are many posts on SP which delve into the negative and long lasting aspects of self harm, many wish they’d never picked up a blade. I feel for each of them. It’s well worth looking at some of the older posts to gain insight.
Having positive coping mechanisms is important, a normal part of life is the challenges and we need a way to deal with those times. It may be worth looking at what causes the emotional pain though, perhaps it’s possible to minimise the exposure and triggers (you may have already so feel free to disregard).
I second everything Night In Atlantis has said. And to add from my experience of self harm, I was left with scars that were not only a reminder, but made me very self conscious if people saw them. I would cover my arm super fast if I accidentally ‘forgot’ they were there. I wish I’d never done it. So, please, don’t go there. It doesn’t make the emotional pain go away, it isn’t really coping and in the long run makes things worse.
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Think of it like eating a chocolate cake by yourself. It’s bad for you. You will regret it. People will make fun of you if they find out. But sometimes life sucks so bad you just have to eat a chocolate cake by yourself.
Because the physical pain temporarily detracts from the emotional pain that is being suffered. And for some people, to see blood tells them they are alive if the numb feelings are too overwhelming. It then can become habitual.
It becomes an addiction
Don’t do it. You will end up sorry and try to quit.
In the end it’s basically just fun. It’s intense stimuli for a mind that’s deprived… Much like when you cage a parrot up and it starts to pluck out it’s feathers due to stress.
You’ve got a storm in your head but no one sees that. You look at yourself and you look fine. So some part of you wants to reflect those wounds onto yourself so there’s actually something wrong. Other then that you feel you deserve and it distracts from other pains. Some people like looking at blood others like to see the layers of flesh.
There is a lot of diferents explanations here…. My question is: I will feel better if I do it? My emocional pain will go away (temporarily)?
No, in the long run you’ll not feel better and may even have to adapt to living a life with the possible permanent physical and psychological effects of such a negative coping mechanism (scarring, judgement, concealment, reduced mobility, infection etc.). It may be wise to avoid the addictive nature of self harm before it becomes a crutch and an extremely difficult cycle to break. Try to adopt a beneficial and positive coping mechanism, one which offers similar levels of relief without the dangerous consequences.
What do you enjoy? coping mechanisms can come in all forms. Sometimes we don’t even know what we may take pleasure in without first experiencing it, it can help to try new things and see what sticks.
There are many posts on SP which delve into the negative and long lasting aspects of self harm, many wish they’d never picked up a blade. I feel for each of them. It’s well worth looking at some of the older posts to gain insight.
Having positive coping mechanisms is important, a normal part of life is the challenges and we need a way to deal with those times. It may be worth looking at what causes the emotional pain though, perhaps it’s possible to minimise the exposure and triggers (you may have already so feel free to disregard).
Thank you!
I second everything Night In Atlantis has said. And to add from my experience of self harm, I was left with scars that were not only a reminder, but made me very self conscious if people saw them. I would cover my arm super fast if I accidentally ‘forgot’ they were there. I wish I’d never done it. So, please, don’t go there. It doesn’t make the emotional pain go away, it isn’t really coping and in the long run makes things worse.