Why do people self harm?

[smaug3215]

I can't tell you how many times I read questions about people who are asking about their self harming. I don't get why people would this. And the worst part is they ask it in a very matter of fact way. Honestly, it makes me really upset when I read these things. I almost tear up

[AlexOnToast]

It's a good question for sure. There are a lot of factors, but for me I just dont know. I dont like doing it at all but I have done it. Its just one of those things that are extremely hard to justify

[tundravortex]

we really dont know ask them why could be anything

[Ainsleyshea]

well wen some one tell u ur not as good as them or your ugly or fat or worthless or you say some think or do some thing that means some thing to u and they mess it up for no reason and you want to cry but you don't u back it up and it happens agene and agene up until u brake down and nothing feels better that to drain it all away thro your vain does that cover it

[dingleberryz]

When people cut themselves receptors in there brain release a chemical known as endorphins which gives them a really small euphoria which makes them feel good also you get to replace you're emotional pain with physical pain which distracts you from life's bullshit.

[Elysium]

Questions for Both :arrow: Cutting and Self Harm

[DeadEyes]

People who are doing self harm seem to want to punish themselves. There can be many reasons why somebody would feel like puhishing themselves, including not accepting their sexuality but it seems to mostly have to do with low self esteem.

[ImagineRepublicCity]

There are plenty of reasons. A couple of them are...

>To feel "alive"
>To punish themselves
>To 'get rid' of the emotional pain
>For attention
>A way to relax/feel okay

Of course there are many other reasons, but these are the few I remember.

[Harley Quinn]

When it comes to self harm, people do it for all sorts of reasons and everyone is a little different. It's usually because of a mental/emotional pain to which is then transferred into a physical pain because it's easier to deal with that way. Unless you've actually got the point where you have either considered self harm, or have actually done it, you won't really understand it. It gives a person a sense of control over some things that usually can't be controlled. Of course, there are some people that do it for attention which actually, isn't all that bad as people make it seem. If they want attention from it, usually there is a hidden underlaid problem but that's only for some cases.

[Etcetera]

For me, I have been cutting since 7th grade.

It's because it's a form of release. I get to where I feel like I am numb and I aint feeling anything, so I cut because that's the only pain I really have control over, and it helps me feel better knowing that I am feeling something.

[GreyGoldfish]

Personally for me, physical pain distracts me from emotional pain. It helps me cope with depression.

[ilikehorses2]

For me it makes me feel alive. I often feel numb and when I cut I know I am alive.

[DarkHorse4eva]

it removed my pain and made me happy, it might sound weird, but it did... i think its because there was a bit of pain in it, my body released endorphin's or what its called and made me happy

[Croconaw]

It makes me feel better.

[myfoodisnotshared]

That's a very good question that I absolutely hate. I've been self harming for a while now and I always feel so... unworthy when I hear people discussing why they cut. Death in the family, bullying, sexual abuse, cut off from family... the list goes on. The why doesn't matter, neither does the amount. If you're doing it you have a problem, which I know, even if I can't put it into practise.

So I will not answer your question:-) There's no way I can do so without building up the walls I've ran into so many times my self, where the kind of self harm you do is wrong, or unworthy, or just somehow different and therefore pathetic. It makes so much harder to stop, when on every side you find that your 'reason' for what you do isn't up to scratch compared with everyone else.

[maddogmj77]

People do it for tons of reasons, some people don't know why they do it. For me, I just need the pain to get me through the day.