What exactly does it feel like?

[Takashu]

Im sorry if I offend but why do people cut. I dont understand how it feels good.

[invisiblegirl]

cuz most of us that do it r deppressed and have problems that r rather hard 4 us 2 deal with, usually somone would cut if they r upset or depressed, or maybe cuz somthing happend we all have our own reasons, don't get me wrong i'm not trying 2 encourage any1 2 cut or self harm but most the reason most people say it feels good is becuase, when we do it our minds r focoused on the cut or burn whatever, and we don't have 2 deel with the stress or depresion or what have u.

[Ironic Infidel In England]

It relieves stress, and gives a mild feeling of euphoria. For me, anyway.

[-Silence]

gives a mild feeling of euphoria.

That's it mostly, other people have actual feelings that it brings. But in the chemistry of it, when you harm yourself the brain sends off endorphins, which is like a 'high'. A huge amount of relief.

Endorphins - Substances produced by the brain that have painkilling and tranquillizing effects on the body. Endorphins are thought to be similar to morphine and are usually released by the brain during times of extreme body stress.

Like I said, other people have personal feelings that it brings, but that is about the same for everyone.

For me, it's control, helps me know that I'm still in control.

[Sapphire]

For me it was either a release of all the things that I kept locked inside or to remind myself that I am still alive and not completely numb.

[Everglow]

for me, it's a huge release of pain, anguish and self hate..it feels so good to feel the rush of all my torments pour out of me

or to remind myself that I am still alive and not completely numb.

QFT for me too..it makes me feel alive, especially when i'm uncomfortably numb

[feel_the_silence]

for me it felt good because i was turning all the hate i had for other people into hate for myself...and in that way you can release it without hurting anyone but yourself

[ArtistInNeed]

for me, it feels like a huge rush of power has come over me. It gives me the sense that even though life is crazy i can still control that part of my life. It feels really good for me. I do it if im stressed or angry, or upset, or depressed. Actually, i think the only feeling i dont do it for would be when im happy. haha. If im bored, i do it.

[Rawrbaby]

cause it gets your mind off of thangs

[Sapphire]

*to the original poster*
As you can see, many different people experience different things.

[Activate]

You know the feeling when you chew on your tounge and lips because they feel weird? Apparently thats what it feels like... Thats what my friend told me

[slut bunwullah]

Im sorry if I offend but why do people cut. I dont understand how it feels good.

My psyciatrist told me that Mental Pain is much worse than physical pain, so people cut to Distract themselves from the mental pain.

[Φρανκομβριτ]

some also believe it's a feeling of control over something when you feel like you've lost control of your life. I personally don't know how to describe what it does for me.

[Whisper]

Escape from emptiness, depression, and feelings of unreality.
Easing tension.
Providing relief: when intense feelings build, self-injurers are overwhelmed and unable to cope. By causing pain, they reduce the level of emotional and physiological arousal to a bearable one.
Relieving anger: many self-injurers have enormous amounts of rage within. Afraid to express it outwardly, they injure themselves as a way of venting these feelings.
Escaping numbness: many of those who self-injure say they do it in order to feel something, to know that they're still alive.
Grounding in reality, as a way of dealing with feelings of depersonalization and dissociation
Maintaining a sense of security or feeling of uniqueness
Obtaining a feeling of euphoria
Preventing suicide


Expressing emotional pain they feel they cannot bear
Obtaining or maintaining influence over the behavior of others
Communicating to others the extent of their inner turmoil
Communicating a need for support
Expressing or repressing sexuality
Expressing or coping with feelings of alienation
Validating their emotional pain -- the wounds can serve as evidence that those feelings are real


Continuing abusive patterns: self-injurers tend to have been abused as children.
Punishing oneself for being "bad"
Obtaining biochemical relief: there is some thought that adults who were repeatedly traumatized as children have a hard time returning to a "normal" baseline level of arousal and are, in some sense, addicted to crisis behavior. Self-harm can perpetuate this kind of crisis state
Diverting attention (inner or outer) from issues that are too painful to examine
Exerting a sense of control over one's body
Preventing something worse from happening
These reasons can be broadly grouped into three categories: Affect regulation -- Trying to bring the body back to equilibrium in the face of turbulent or unsettling feelings. This includes reconnection with the body after a dissociative episode, calming of the body in times of high emotional and physiological arousal, validating the inner pain with an outer expression, and avoiding suicide because of unbearable feelings. In many ways, as Sutton says, self-harm is a "gift of survival." It can be the most integrative and self-preserving choice from a very limited field of options.

Communication -- Some people use self-harm as a way to express things they cannot speak. When the communication is directed at others, the SIB is often seen as manipulative. However, manipulation is usually an indirect attempt to get a need met; if a person learns that direct requests will be listened to and addressed the need for indirect attempts to influence behavior decreases. Thus, understanding what an act of self-harm is trying to communicate can be crucial to dealing with it in an effective and constructive way.

Control/punishment -- This category includes trauma reenactment, bargaining and magical thinking (if I hurt myself, then the bad thing I am fearing will be prevented), protecting other people, and self-control. Self-control overlaps somewhat with affect regulation; in fact, most of the reasons for self-harm listed above have an element of affect control in them.

[star_face]

i mainly self harm as a form of punishment or a way for expressing self fustration and anger. i would compare the feeling of cutting almost like getting a massage, it just relises tention and and is really calming but more extreme than a message obv!

[Never_Forget]

it just makes me feel so relaxed, so tranquil, so.. away from the world, i feel in control of my life.
and my emotions

[Evrythng_im_not]

I do it because I forget what it's like to be real. I don't understand something and I just need something to remind me I'm real and everything that's happening is real.

I have problems at home and i can't deal. I don't know how to deal with emotional pain. I make it physical. I know how to deal with that.

[hardcore-smile]

well for me its because it was the only pain in my life i can control