not just cutting - SH in general

[SmexiLexie510]

So when people say 'self harm' they usually think of cutting. All of the people I've known that self harm only cut, they don't do anything other than that. If you say 'I've burnt myself' it isn't the same for people as 'I've cut' ... but it should be.

I really want other types of self harm to be recognized better, more support for people who do other things than cut, such as burning, scratching, inserting things (pins, etc), head banging, anything that is done on purpose, with the intention to harm. All of these things can be as equally dangerous as cutting. I am not belittling cutting in any way, I have cut, among other things, for the past five years, I am purely trying to explain that I want as much recognition and support for all types of self harm, as there is for cutting.

Does anyone else think the same? Thank you.

[xXl0sth0peXx]

Well. through my eyes. I think when people say SH, they mean SH.. and if they say cutting.. they mean cutting.. That's what I hear most of the time anyways. I do agree that SH in general should be 'recognized' more but maybe it is recognized more than you think. I suppose it just all depends on the person.

[FullyAlive]

I've never assumed when someone says they self harm that they cut. There is probably more information on cutting because I think the greatest proportion of self harm is done in this way. But from my own personal experience i've never had it assumed by a professional or anyone really that if I say I self harm then it must be through cutting, for me I do cut but I have been asked by people dealing with me how I self harm. I think perhaps cutting is more thought of because it is more widely done than other types but also because its harder to hide and more obvious to people. Burns or bruises can be assumed as accidents but rows of cuts don't tend to be accidents.

Sure maybe other forms of self harm could be more known about but couldn't that be said of self harm in general?

[Mortal Coil]

I think the greatest proportion of self harm is done in this way.

Actually, studies have shown that hair-pulling is more common, as are scratching and biting. But you're right about the fact that cutting is more obvious than bruising, etc.

I definitely agree though, other forms of SH should get a little more recognition.

[XxfakexX]

I hate that self harm isn't recognised in all forms. Cutting is the only thing that my parents notice, even when i walk in covered in burns and scratches. For me, my scratches end up more visible then cuts. So why ignore them?
In my area cutting for attention and showing them off has become regular in schools. It's disgusting but i can understand why it's associated more.

[unsaidwords]

Agree 100% with you. Sadly, still a lot of people automatically think of cutting when "self-harm" is brought up to discussion. It's the most "famous", I guess you could say that, but other forms of SH shouldn't be ignored - it's still hurting yourself no matter how you do it/what you use.

[Desuetude]

I guess people think of self harm to be more about cutting because people relate it to 'emos' and that's basically the first thing that comes into the heads of those uneducated about self harm.

Sure it should get more recognition. People aren't educated on the dangers and the Why's of self harm altogether and that includes cutting. They don't teach it in schools, they basically try to avoid the topic altogether. The only way that children in schools learn about it -that I've seen/hear of- is through others making fun of it. No one realises the purpose of it or the types of people that do it, that's why when people find out they say "Oh, but you seemed so happy" it's not always people that are depressed that use it as a release.

But yes, overall, I think they all need some form of recognition because if people link self harm to just cutting and they've been (for example) banging their head against a wall as a release then they might not realise that what they're doing is also considered a form of SH.

[Gazmo]

i see it all as SH, like if someone says they do it i dont assume its cutting, i think cutting is just the more obvious form, you cant make excuses for rows of cuts. i worry about people if i see burns or loads and loads of bruses on people, but cutting is definately the most recognisable

[Ambrosia]

I've never assumed that Self Harm was cutting, either, but then again I have also lived this for a very long time so I suppose I just know better than to assume.

[survivor]

I used to think SH was just cutting until I started SH. I cut, stuck thorns and pins in my arms, and when I was caught and my blades taken I scratched at myself 'til I bled with a rock. I think people should recognize other types of SH. I didn't think the fact that used to bite my had until it bruised when I did something wrong was SH until I started cutting.