Self-harm

Page 1 of 1 [ 6 posts ]

J-snukk
Tufted Titmouse

Joined: 28 Oct 2011
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Posts: 44
Location: Shetland, Scotland, United Kingdom

01 Dec 2011, 9:48 am

Is this really a bad thing? Or simply an efficient coping mechanism to transmute emotional pain into more productive and tolerable physical pain? Healthy behaviour or not? Discuss.

_________________
"The sadness will last forever" - Van Gogh

"Kiss the hand of the arm you cannot break, while praying to God to break it for you" - Arabian Proverb

auntblabby
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 12 Feb 2010
Gender: Male
Posts: 115,251
Location: the island of defective toy santas

01 Dec 2011, 10:16 am

rather than maiming myself, i'd rather go outside and sweat to the oldies for an hour or two, that works better for me than exsanguinating myself in installments.

utherdoul
Snowy Owl

Joined: 14 Oct 2009
Age: 39
Gender: Male
Posts: 155

01 Dec 2011, 11:31 am

J-snukk wrote:

Is this really a bad thing? Or simply an efficient coping mechanism to transmute emotional pain into more productive and tolerable physical pain? Healthy behaviour or not? Discuss.

Besides the melodramatic aspect and the scars self harm can cause you run a small risk of serious injury. While a personal choice a seriou injury is very expensive even if you have good insurance and may result in unpleasent confinement and evalution a hellish thing for someone who is autistic. Smoking a joint, a cigarette, or drinking some scotch or tequila is a much more socially accceptable and enjoyable form of self harm.

John_Browning
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 22 Mar 2009
Age: 44
Gender: Male
Posts: 4,456
Location: The shooting range

01 Dec 2011, 12:22 pm

J-snukk wrote:

Is this really a bad thing? Or simply an efficient coping mechanism to transmute emotional pain into more productive and tolerable physical pain? Healthy behaviour or not? Discuss.

I used to cut. It's a horribly destructive spiral to get into. It's actually worse physically than mentally.

_________________
"Gun control is like trying to reduce drunk driving by making it tougher for sober people to own cars."
- Unknown

"A fear of weapons is a sign of ret*d sexual and emotional maturity."
-Sigmund Freud

47x
Sea Gull

Joined: 17 Aug 2011
Age: 38
Gender: Female
Posts: 223

03 Dec 2011, 8:49 pm

I use self harming as a way of calming myself down, in these situations is it possible to call it stimming?. I also have days when I use self harm as a way of punishment.

Ann2011
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 15 Jul 2011
Age: 55
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,843
Location: Ontario, Canada

03 Dec 2011, 9:14 pm

J-snukk wrote:

Is this really a bad thing? Or simply an efficient coping mechanism to transmute emotional pain into more productive and tolerable physical pain?

I don't think physical pain is more productive. Actually the opposite - you still feel angry and frustrated with yourself, but now you have a physical injury. Sometimes the physical pain is more tolerable at the time and actually makes you feel calmer, but it's at a high cost.

I have scars running down both my arms and they are a constant reminder of bad times. One of them still causes me physical pain because I cut through a nerve. I really wish I had not resorted to this.

Page 1 of 1 [ 6 posts ]

Jump to:

Self-harm Post Reply New Topic

Self-harm