why...

[ember5060]

Why do people cut themselves, can't they just masturbate? I don't understand why some people would rather cut themselves.:confused:

[Rutherford The Brave]

Because there is a major league difference between cutting to relieve emotional issues and stress; and masturbating to relieve stress. People masturbate when they are horny and it really isn't a issue. But cutting is basically a suicide attempt, but to answer your question. I do not know why, I cut not for attention but I find the endorphines good. I should say used to cut, but I had a few days where I cut quite alot.

[ShatteredWings]

Um...

because the two aren't related mayhaps? There isn't any connection..

[ember5060]

but they both relieve stress right?

[theOperaGhost]

They both relieve stress, but cutting relieves so much more than that. Plus cutting causes pain, which releases endorphines, which basically make you feel high.

I don't have any problem seeing why it is hard to stop cutting. It is an addiction. It's would almost be like an addiction to pain meds wouldn't it? Pain meds increase endorphines or something like that, so it's kind of a physical addiction. I just can't see why people cut for the first time. Is it a curiosity, just like drugs are?

[ShatteredWings]

They both relieve stress, but cutting relieves so much more than that. Plus cutting causes pain, which releases endorphines, which basically make you feel high.

I don't have any problem seeing why it is hard to stop cutting. It is an addiction. It's would almost be like an addiction to pain meds wouldn't it? Pain meds increase endorphines or something like that, so it's kind of a physical addiction. I just can't see why people cut for the first time. Is it a curiosity, just like drugs are?

okay, that explains it a bit better.

to ember: it's more than just 'stress relife'... there's something else, i can't really explain

to jared: I don't know.. i'm not sure why i started the enital form of SH either [it didnt start with cuts..]

[just-me]

i started s/h to feel pain, makes me seem kinda more real :/

[Sapphire]

Different people self-harm for different reasons. Not everyone does it for a release of some kind.

Interesting that you brought this up though. The first time I stopped SH'ing I did start substituting it with phone sex. It didn't give me the exact same effect (relief from pent up emotions) but I absolutely had to stop so in my mind it had to do. I managed to stop the SH but got addicted to phone sex. It got so bad that it made me feel incredibly dirty and disgusting. I turned back to the SH, just this time it was to punish myself.
My point is simply substituting the behaviour for something else won't solve the initial problem which is lack of a healthy outlet for emotions/problems.

But cutting is basically a suicide attempt When people self harm they are not trying to end their lives. Put basically, SH is a maladaptive way of coping with problems and emotions.