What even...

[screamtobeheard]

So I haven't been cutting as frequently as I used to. I still do, but not as much. And I thought this was good. Then I come to find out that apparently banging my head, pulling out my eyelashes, and compulsively picking scabs and my skin count as self harm too. I've been picking at my skin and scabs for longer than I can remember. I don't see how it's self harm. Yes, it hurts a little and it bleeds (and is admittedly really gross and embarrassing), but it's just kind of compulsive. I don't know. This just kind of irritated me to find out, and I was wondering if it's legitimate, or if it really isn't self harm, like I thought.

[Magenta]

I count it as self harm. I do it when I'm stressed. You're right, it's compulsive. For me, so is self-harm. It's mutilating (that sounds terrible but it's the only way I can think of wording it properly) your own body in response to environmental and emotional factors that cause stress and pain. It's a way of coping, albeit not a healthy one.

But you're not the only one who does this, don't worry. Thing is, they can all get serious. People don't think of it as self harm because they think that "oh, it's not like I'm slicing my skin". However, hitting your head kills brain cells and could result in worse damage by accident. If you pull out your eyelashes too much, I've been told they stop growing back in. Not sure if that is true but it's a good deterrent. Lastly, picking at your skin and scabs interrupts the body's natural healing process and can leave lasting scars even if you aren't using something like a razor.

Hope this helped. PM me if you ever want to talk or just chat as a distraction. :)

[screamtobeheard]

That does help. :/ Thank you, love.