Scratching, Biting...

[Ambrosia]

I don't post in this part very often anymore, but I was simply wondering if other people engage in some of the habits I do.

I've been a self-harmer for years. I also compulsively scratch my head to a point of bleeding, and if I'm not scratching my head I'm scratching my face, or my arms, back, anywhere I can find skin that is scratch worthy. I have recently started biting the inside of my mouth. I bite it until it is raw, usually, and will take my finger nails and dig them into the sides of my lips and press the skin into my canine teeth. I'll dig my nails into my gums, also, to cause discomfort. This leaves my mouth raw and sore. When I was a Junior in High School I would take safety pins and cut up the tops of my hands during class so I'm considering this as a form to replace that, probably, because I only do this while I'm in classes.

Does anyone else do this? I feel like I look a bit odd to the people around me because I'm always scratching, and biting, covered in scars, and I look like some sort of a druggie!

[Love.Hate]

Your not odd at all. I bite the inside of my mouth until it bleeds a lot.. I also scratch but yours sounds excessive. I only normally scratch to the point of it burning like mad. Lexi are you seeing anyone for your self harm? If you are mention this to them, see what alternatives they can come up with.

[Ambrosia]

Ah, no. I'm not. I can't afford to see anyone. I don't have insurance or any of that savvy junk. :P Yeah, I suppose it is excessive. Anyone who ever notices it just yells at me to stop which, of course, does no good.

[Luves Everything x]

Its not weird, I think most people who SH do that as well. I only do it when I can't get to any other way of doing it, I'll bite my lips till they bleed and scratch my wrists where id normally cut them.

I actually think, if you have no choice, thats probably better for you than actually cutting, though neither is the healthiest option for any of us :)

[ShadowGirl]

I sometimes dig my nails into my skin to make myself bleed. I've only scratched until I bled a few times.

[AlmostHomeless]

I used to bite my cheek until it bled. I would press my cheek into my mouth to make it easier to bite. Doing this for years has left me with my left cheek being thinner than my right. Only noticeable if I grab my cheeks and compare. I had to stop a year ago because I got braces on which get in the way. My left cheek is now almost back to normal thickness but it still seems a bit thinner.

[Amaryllis]

I chew on my hands and arms, I bite my fingers till they bleed, it's a nervous habit, I do it when I'm lonely as well. Or more often then not, because of my parents. I dig my fingernails into my arms and I have bitten chunks out of my lip as it's much easier to hide and hurts a lot more.

What I find does help though, is shredding paper. It just keeps my hands from cutting and I become so focused on the paper-shredding. I find it comforting.

I scratch my healing wounds as well. But hun, we should really try to stop. It only gets worse, to the point where you'll always have something to hide. And how do you hide something that's written all over your body?

[Fiction]

I scratch my arms alot. Usually when I have bad urges to cut but I know that I shouldn't. I don't really count it as self harm.

I also bite the inside of my mouth too. Usually I do this when there's a specific thing wrong, and it's not really a concious thing. So I can usually tell how i'm really feeling from the state of my mouth :P

[xXl0sth0peXx]

I can usually tell how i'm really feeling from the state of my mouth :P

This. ^

I bite inside my mouth when I have stuff bugging me.
I scratch with finger nails when I don't have anything else.