most of us aren't attention seekers, so why say we are?? :/

[georgiamay]

ok, in school a couple of days ago, this girl in my english class decided to go up to the front of the class and say "why do people slash their wrists and cut themselves? i think they do it for fun and to show people they're hard, plus all they want is attention!" i was so tempted to shout out "what the hell do you know!?" but i though if i did then people people would ask questions, and i'm NOT going to give them an answer, so naturally they would make up an answer, which would always be worse than the truth...

i NEVER did it for attention, and i know someone else that self-harmed that didn't do it for attention, because, i mean, we hide it, so how is it attention seeking?

i know one person who did for attention, but they aren't very common though are they?

sorry, i'm ranting again :/ just so pissed off about it :/

[Skeletal-Chic]

I know exactly what you mean. I often feel like an attention seeker for what I do, but I do it in a place no one would see unless I had no top on (between my shoulder and elbow)

[2D]

It's a stereotype. There's a few that do it for attention and that's what sticks with people. Just like any stereotype it's true, just not for everyone. We all want attention and care to some degree, but that's not always the reason behind cutting.

[Kaius]

This is the reason i don't really tell anybody when i feel i need to, or have cut. I wait until im asked beforehand if i don't trust the people, then it cant be turned around on me because they asked. People that have nice, happy, secure lives probably have no idea what its like to be in a position where you want to do that. Therefore, have bias views. Although, some people DO do it for the attention, but not the bad kind. The kind that want to get help, its the only way they can see themselves getting it possibly. It just depends on the person and the situation.

[Asylum]

everyone are attention seekers... why does one go up on stage to sing? why does one bake a pie, or say hi, to get good attention back.... when people cut they hide it, this is nto for attention because they don't want others to see it... it's why people wear long sleeves,make lies, to hide the truth... becuse we don't want the bad attention... poeple don't understand... because of the stereotype and make flase accusations ... but some people do, do it for attention, however its more of a i need help, whihc gets direct attention... even going around making fun of cuts saying they are cool they are getting direct attention which will get them also medical attention and psycological attention as well...
hiding it is not a form of attention seeking,

[Brighter.Tomorrow]

Actually it is seeking for attention, if you read ALOT about psychology you'll find out while you are hiding it, your mind is wanting you to slip up, so that someone can help.
BUT AWAY! =]
The reason so many say they are attention seekers are because when the Emo Scene got really popular and "cool", everyone thought that emo's cut, so all the wanna-be's cut to make themselves emo, and it became such a big thing, everyone forgot they might be something wrong other then the fact of trying to be emo.

[BeautifulDisaster]

^^ My mind doesn't want that, in fact, it wants the opposite.
That's the whole point of hiding.
You don't want it to be seen.
Especially if you get bullied/abused for it.

[Marcie]

everyone are attention seekers... why does one go up on stage to sing? why does one bake a pie, or say hi, to get good attention back.... when people cut they hide it, this is nto for attention because they don't want others to see it... it's why people wear long sleeves,make lies, to hide the truth... becuse we don't want the bad attention... poeple don't understand... because of the stereotype and make flase accusations ... but some people do, do it for attention, however its more of a i need help, whihc gets direct attention... even going around making fun of cuts saying they are cool they are getting direct attention which will get them also medical attention and psycological attention as well...
hiding it is not a form of attention seeking,

Well put, I agree. And that was basically what I was going to say haha.

[2D]

Everyone wants help. So in effect everyone who cuts wants attention because everyone want's attention.

Everyone = 99% of people

[BeautifulDisaster]

Not sure about attention, but I want love & to be cared for.
But that isn't what people who say we are attention seekers think we want.

[Scarface]

i never did it for attention seeking reasons i did it for my own reasons, but thats neither her nor there. some do it and sit on a pity pot and want attention i guess it varies on the person. hope this helps

[Aspiringanonymous]

"Attention seeking", like many other terms in our modern, overly sensitive society, should be replaced with words of greater neutrality in connotation. A glance at discussions regarding this topic anywhere reveals varying degrees of misunderstanding - people see the word "attention" and automatically generate a passionately negative response.

It is human nature to desire others' interest and concern, regardless of how or why.

Certain people will express this instinct at the expense of others - exploiting the relative weakness of minorities and misfits.

Others do so at the expense of their own well-being and sanity.

Not all of it is a conscious process, and it is completely possible to have disagreements between conscious thought and unconscious instinct. None of it is ever supposed to be necessary. But it happens nonetheless.

Let the proudly ignorant be, there's no use in trying to forcibly change thought patterns. They'll figure it out for themselves one day, through their own experiences, which will teach a lesson to be remembered for a long time.

But even if they don't - that's just how human beings are. Dwelling on it excessively won't necessarily do you any good.

[HeroesAndCons]

Thats what happened to me
My teacher was talking about how cutters are masochist and we seek attentipn and psycoligic help
i was soo gonna go up there and show her my scars but she wouldve called my mom and counsoler and i dont want anyone to know but u guys
i was soo fucking mad

[littlerascal]

I personally see it as being attention seeking...whether it's consciously or subconsciously. Why else would you do it? People like attention...especially when they are depressed...and people seem to be depressed most often because "they are alone" or "nobody understands them." How do you fix that? You make an effort to get noticed somehow...to get people's attention.

[georgiamay]

I personally see it as being attention seeking...whether it's consciously or subconsciously. Why else would you do it? People like attention...especially when they are depressed...and people seem to be depressed most often because "they are alone" or "nobody understands them." How do you fix that? You make an effort to get noticed somehow...to get people's attention.

This is what i was talking about :/ when my dad found out, i felt like crap, because the whole reason i was hiding it was because i didn't want anyone to notice... i did it as a release, and sometimes to make myself actually feel something, but i was so ashamed, that i didn't want ANYONE to know... so i dont think it wasn't attention seeking to the extent your talking about

[Pirate]

I think it's the term 'attention seeking' that gets people upset, because it has a really self-centred feeling to it. I agree that a lot of people, subconciously, kind of do want someone to catch them doing it so they can get help. But that's not everyone.
What bothers me, is that someone's called me 'attention seeking' on here before because I had a rant one night when I really did feel like I was getting to that point again.. I'd like to think this site is somewhere you can be completely honest and say 'Yeah, I really feel like this is the end of the line' without having to worry, because just sending in that post made me feel better, I'd gotten it off my chest.
But apparently there's people like that everywhere. And you just gotta deal with it.
It really sucks how small minded people are.

[Charleigh]

at first i will admit i just did it for the extra thrill of attention but then i found it actually helped so i started doing it without wanting ANY attention, then it sort of escelated though to drugs and shit.

[justafriend]

http://artofselfmutilation.weebly.com

[NeverLetGo]

Personally, I think that people say people who self harm are "attention seekers" because it can be out of their comfort zone - therefore, they make up an excuse to have peace of mind. People (unfortunately like me, though I have an open mind, and suffer from depression) who have an easy, lucky life build comfort zones all around them. God forbid they shatter... Which can happen if people are "cutters" whom are "attention seekers"... They freak out; it tears apart their normality of life. I think a lot of time self harmers are stereotyped to compensate for others' insecurities and their slowly diminishing comfort zone... In my opinion.

[Hatsune Miku]

There's gonna be people like that all the time, but no matter what you tell them their still going to think what they think. Let them be ignorant. They don't realize that their mocking kids who are depressed and/or suicidal. They'll someday experience it and say, " Wow was I fucking wrong "

At school, during health to be exact. Teacher was talking about Self harm, Depression ect.

I finally raised my hand, stood up and said, " You're a fucking idiot "
Got me 3 days of detention but it felt so good.

[Peace God]

if anything she is the one that wants attention just ignore her and...dont cut yourself

[georgiamay]

if anything she is the one that wants attention just ignore her and...dont cut yourself

i dont anymore, i've stopped :D its just still a very soft spot for me, i struggle to talk about it out loud. I still get pissed off when people take the piss out of self harmers because i know how it feels, and they clearly dont.

[Hatsune Miku]

dont cut yourself

Easier said then done

[Peace God]

i dont anymore, i've stopped :D its just still a very soft spot for me, i struggle to talk about it out loud. I still get pissed off when people take the piss out of self harmers because i know how it feels, and they clearly dont.
wat can i say, some ppl are idiots
i guess dont kno wats its like to want to harm myself badly(im too much of a p*$%y lol) but i definitely kno wat its like to feel insanely depressed
she has no right to complain about sht she doesnt even understand

[georgiamay]

she has no right to complain about sht she doesnt even understand

too true, well said :P

[pixie1234]

one of my bm's do it for attention and i just yell at him all the time, he has no issues with his life or anything and it really frustrates me 'cos he can stop if he wants. i cant in stuck with this hell of a life for my coping but he just does it for fun it really p***** me off! also the other day i get these kids come up to me and get their pens and make cutting motions on their wrists, they then backed me into a corner and started interrorgating me. how isnsensetive?! sorry to mone and all that. xx

[1_21Guns]

they don't understand, nor do the people who do it for attention.
some people pass judgements on situations they have no capability of understanding.
its really annoying, but one of the things that happens, much to every self harmers irritance.
SH is sterotyped with "emo's" so much these days, everyone who SH's is seen as the same. and concidering "emo's" are also usually steryotyped to be attention whores, the connection is made by the simple minded people of the earth.
pisses me off an awful lot too.

[allsoulsareblack]

fucking idots it almost sick liam why are doing that for atention sure thats why it was hid under bed in myy boxes full of random shit

[Pirate]

one of my bm's do it for attention and i just yell at him all the time, he has no issues with his life or anything and it really frustrates me 'cos he can stop if he wants. i cant in stuck with this hell of a life for my coping but he just does it for fun it really p***** me off! also the other day i get these kids come up to me and get their pens and make cutting motions on their wrists, they then backed me into a corner and started interrorgating me. how isnsensetive?! sorry to mone and all that. xx

That's awful! I'm so sorry you had to get that kind of crap.
People seriously baffle me sometimes. x

[kidkizzet]

there was this guy the other day at school who sits next to me and he started talkin about people who self harm and saying 'people that slit their wrists are attention seekers and they think its cool' and stuff like that and i wanted to turn round and have a go at him and tell him what its really like but i didnt, i couldnt and he was talkin about it for ages and everyone was agreeing with him and i got so angry :@

[georgiamay]

another thing that kind of annoys me, is that everyone that thinks self-harmers are attention seekers, they all say "people who slit their wrists are attention seekers" and they seem to be completely oblivious to the fact that there are other ways of SH, and other places to do it, not just your wrist. i mean, why focus on cutting? i know its the most common form, but what if someone who only did it for attention burnt themselves instead? sorry, it just annoys me a bit.

another group of boys decided to walk up to me today and say "OH MY GOD do you cut yourself? do you slash up your arm" and that kind of thing, and i actually had to walk right up to him and show him how much bloody taller i was than him (because he was in year 8, which annoyed me even more, because he's so young :/). and he had no idea that i ever did it! i have no marks on me anymore that haven't healed, except the odd few that look like the kind of think you get from leaning on something sharp by accident... it just really pisses me off that self harmers have such a negative connotation, and no one seems to be aware of what it actually does to people's lives...

sorry for going on a bit :P