Does scratching count as self harm if I don't bleed?
280 Answers
Last Updated: 11/20/2022 at 4:23pm
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Jennifer Patterson, LMFT
Art Therapist
Life can be messy. Sometimes you need a little support to make your way through it. I love to help guide people through their challenges & to find the beauty in our messes.
Top Rated Answers
Scratching definitely counts as self harm even if there is no bleeding. You are self-harming, hurting yourself, you're hurting the one that matters most: you.
It Definitely does. Any feeling of harming yourself at all is dangerous not only for you, but those around you as well. If you feel this way I really encourage you to call 911 if in immediate danger with these feelings or call an anonymous support line. We here at 7 Cups of Tea are also here for you if you feel connecting with one of our listeners could help you as well.
1-800-273-TALK
Yes, any harm that you cause to your body intentionally is considered self harm. If it does not bleed the medical name for it is "superficial" wounds.
It's very much a personal thing. Any attempt at harming yourself counts as self harm, especially if it becomes a habit, or the only way you know how to cope. Most people's self harm habits start small, so it's important to take any kind of self-harm seriously, even if it doesn't result in bleeding or even visible injury, you should recognise it as an indicator of something that could potentially be a problem in the future and try your best to find alternative methods of coping!
Anonymous
March 23rd, 2016 1:51pm
I'm not an expert, but in my opinion I think it's the intention behind the action rather than the result that makes it self harm
Yes, any form of hurting yourself is classed as self harm. For example cutting, scratching, burning and bruising
Anonymous
September 13th, 2015 1:40am
Anything which you are doing purposely to harm your body counts as self harm so the answer to your question is yes. Before my self harm became more serious I wouldn't bleed when I hurt myself but it defiantly was still self harm.
Anonymous
February 25th, 2020 5:13am
Anything that you do that causes physical pain is still Self-harm. even if you don't bleed. Scratching is still creating an unsafe release from the situation you are currently in. If you have never cut then by scratching it can accidentally go deeper than you wanted and then you may end up cutting instead of scratching. you can always try finding safe coping methods to the urge to scratch. I myself didn't want to say scratching was SH till I talked with someone and they told me that it is classified as SH. so if your goal is to not Self-harm then you need to look for other safer ways to release emotions. Like writing poems or going on a walk. Also, it is great to have a counselor to talk to who can help find coping methods that are safe. Stay strong, you can fight!
Yes. Self harm is anything that causes you bodily harm. Whether its scratching, hitting, biting, cutting, hair pulling, etc. Its is all considered self harm.
it's depend if you do anything that make yourself hurt it is selfharm but it have to be in negative way not like you are itchy then scratching
Bleeding doesn't justify if something is self-harm or not. Any method of trying to hurt yourself is considered self-harm.
If you are doing the act with the goal of injuring yourself or causing pain, then yes, that is self harm.
Anonymous
November 18th, 2015 5:24pm
Yes, scratching is self harm! Any time a person intentionally brings pain upon their body, it is considered self harm, even if the damage does not bleed or is not visible.
yes it does.Don't ever scratch yourself because 1.You're beautiful and 2.You're nails contain a lot of dirt and can cause infection.
Coming from somebody who has used scratching as a form of self harm in the past, yes it does dear. Self harm includes od, burning, cutting ect. even though scratching does not always bleed it does :\. unless of course you are talking about scratching a bug bite or something. Have a nice day\night :)
Yes. It does. Anything done with the intention to hurt yourself counts as self harm, even if it seems trivial and free from consequences.
Self harm can mean anything from pulling out hair, cutting, and yes, scratching. You don't have to classify yourself as someone who "self harms", but know that this is detrimental to your body. Try to remember how great you are, and how much you deserve to be happy.
If you're harming yourself on purpose, it is self harm. Self harm isn't just if its bleeding, don't just exclude it to that.
Anonymous
November 8th, 2015 1:21am
The deffinition of self harm is; deliberate injury to oneself.
So yes if it is to deliberately hurt your self
Anonymous
October 30th, 2015 9:25pm
Any way in which you intentionally cause harm to yourself, whether you bleed or not, counts as self harm. If you do scratch yourself, it can be the beginning of more serious self injury, so I would encourage you to seek support in this.
Yes it does. What matters in self harm isn't how deep you go but what is thé intent behind. If you do it to hurt yourself, it's self harm.
You should look for what triggers it, why you do it. Because thé self harm itself isn't thé problem. It's thé suffering that makes you self harm.
Anonymous
October 30th, 2015 12:33pm
Yes, scratching without bleeding does count as self harm as it is inflicting injury on your own body.
Yes it does count as self harm as does any physical violence towards yourself in any shape or form once it hurts it is self harm
Anonymous
November 1st, 2015 11:20pm
well it is hurting yourself but your not bleeding so even if you cut and dont bleed its self harm but when you scratch and dont bleed its still self harm
Absolutely it does, i did that all the time, anything that leaves a mark on purpose is considered self harm in my opinion
In a way, yes. If you're doing it to cause yourself pain, it's self harm. Please don't try harming yourself, I'm sure things will clear up. Can't have sun without a little rain.
Yes. In the end it's the intention that matters, not the action itself. Thoughts are the most powerful aspect of yourself. If you intended the give yourself pain or any sort of negative feeling, any sort of 'punishment' so to speak, then it is self-harm. Self-harm is about harming your SELF, not just your body.
Anonymous
November 4th, 2015 1:54pm
Yes, self harm is defined as doing something to cause you pain. So if your scratch yourselve to release pain, then easy it would be self harm.
Anonymous
December 12th, 2015 4:16pm
dont hurt yourself,darling. Why dont you call the Self-Harm Hotline? It can help you feel better....
Yes. Not all types of self harm require blood. Of course, no bleeding is preferable to bleeding, but it's still self harm.
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