Discussion Does anyone else think self harm isnt that big of a deal?

[Rustysoupcan]

I guess I'll say that I do think some self harm can be a big deal, like if your cuts need stiches/staples or something. I'm talking minor cuts, bruises, etc.

I dont think self harm is as big of a deal as "normal" people make it out to be. Essentially, "my body my choice". If I want to put scars all over myself, why should anyone stop me? What does it matter? If it helps to cope, why stop? I know some people find self harm addicting, though I have never found that to be true for myself. It's purely a way to cope when I am not doing well. I will go months and months with out SH and then I could go back into doing it every week, every day maybe. So I guess the question is, what's the big deal?

 

[lucid]

Personally, yes. It doesn't matter at all. If it helps, you just like doing it or something, then yeah your choice. People mainly care because of "It's a risk to your health" or "You might CTB" like most would assume. But no, really, it's not that big of a deal.

 

[Alwaysbadtime]

I think it's gross. I wouldn't want visual reminders on my body of my unhappiness and I wouldn't want others to see it. Just my opinion.

 

[Pluto]

Some people routinely participate in activities like stunts or sports which guarantee they will be injured repeatedly, and on one ever criticises them for it (except perhaps spouses!). I wonder if there's some commonality there.

Personally I only self-harmed mildly during the worst period of high school and wouldn't wish that upon anyone, but if it is some sort of conscious choice, then I have to respect that.

 

[motel rooms]

I'm talking minor cuts, bruises, etc.

If minor bruises count, I guess I engage in SH too. I've never thought of occasionally punching my thighs as SH

 

[Midgardsorm]

What's the feeling after self-harming?

I did once and it kinda helped my with a migraine that I had at the time, maybe it was because the sudden decrease of blood pressure, I don't know...

The only problem with self-harming for me it would be if you do it too much. You might lose a lot of blood.

 

[one.way.out]

Agreed. I've engaged in self-harm for a while, it never made sense to me either.

 

[auror.]

I think it's gross. I wouldn't want visual reminders on my body of my unhappiness and I wouldn't want others to see it. Just my opinion.

I don't think it's gross, but I'm definitely against leaving scars and such on my body. I wouldn't want to make my already horrible looking skin to look even worse.

I won't speak for others, but in my case, self-harm isn't a big deal. The most I do is slap or hit myself. It makes me feel much better and gets me through my day.

 

[Spock87]

I personally do it. I find it kinda of relaxing and it seems to release a lot of emotion to the point I can move forward. I don't do it all the time just when I just can't cope

 

[iamthewalrus]

i dont think it's a big deal. i did it again today for a while and it felt good. i think i deserved it.

 

[Dear Agony]

I don't think that's why people see it as a big deal. I think it's because it's a huge indication you have a mental illness or suicidal thoughts. Also, a lot of people start with minor self harm like you described but go to the point of having to get surgery and almost dying because of SH.

 

[finish.me]

straight up isn't a big deal at all. people risk themselves when they get to a certain level of intensity with it but even then non suicidal self harm is basically fine. it exhilirates me, relaxes me, works as punishment, it's got everything good about it and the only reason people don't like it is because its a little taboo. it's literally the equivalent of like..drinking wine after a work day. it's just something i do thats fun and virtually harmless.

 

[Almost]

If its done for attention then its definitely psychologically problematic. Other than that, I suppose its no different than someone flogging themselves or pushing their body to the point of exhaustion and sickness. If it done safely and offers an emotional release, then I can't see the harm.

 

[settheory]

Normally, in itself, it is much less harmful than alcohol and cigarettes. It can be compared to that. And different cultures adopted forms of body mutilation/modification that is not considered self-harm, like piercing, scarification, and so on. People are quick to label a thing bad if others around them do so, but they rarely question why it is bad.

 

[FuneralCry]

I do not personally do any physical self harm, my thoughts are self harm enough, but I understand it can be a coping mechanism to deal with mental pain. Everybody sees and experiences things differently, so while some may have a negative perception towards it, it may make others feel better, so people have no right to interfere with the choices of others.

 

[sadbadpsychogirl]

i am covered in scars from cutting, picking at my skin... its no big deal to me because i have nobody to look good for and i'm gonna die anyway

 

[treasurehunt]

As long as you don't hurt anyone else but yourself, i genuinely think its ok lol. It's just another way to cope

 

[busybee]

I don't see how, on a consenting adult, this is bad but tattoos that are equally permanent are good. Would just be nice if recources on how to keep it clean and tending to the cuts would be more accessible though.
It sucks that people have to avoid getting medical care for cuts that need it cause that would probably send them to gippy sock jail.

 

[anhed0nia]

I've done minor sh a very few times and the only thing that really stops me is the fear that someone will see the evidence and bother me about it. The advice/feedback I get when I just talk about depression is bad enough, even when it's well-meaning, I just don't want anyone interfering with me. But I totally understand the cathartic feeling it can bring, and it gave me something to focus on when I was spiraling. I don't look down on anyone for it.

This is only tangentially related but when a friend of mine suddenly died very young from a freak heart attack, one of the first things I did was to get my nose pierced. It meant that several times a day at regular intervals, I had to stop crying and freaking out, and attend to this wound with the usual procedures. The wound refocused me and made me look after myself during a hard time. Not the same thing as sh but in my limited experience it had a similar effect of pulling me out of my mind and back to my body, or back to reality as it were.