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
Anonymous
January 1st, 2016 8:41am
Yes, it totally does. Anything you do to hurt yourself on purpose is considered self-harm. Anything from pulling your hair to cutting or burning yourself with a razor or lighter is a real form of self-harm.
and if you feel like you want to do this please talk to a listener here at 7 cups.
Anonymous
January 13th, 2016 4:42am
Yes. Self harm is described as a person deliberately hurting themself. This can come in many forms.. Like you said scratching yourself can be one of these..
Yes. Not all types of self harm require blood. Of course, no bleeding is preferable to bleeding, but it's still self harm.
Yes, because you're still harming your body. Anything that involves putting your body under physical pain is considered self harming regardless if you bleed or not. It's still hurting your body.
Anonymous
November 20th, 2022 4:23pm
It is considered self-harm because you are hurting yourself. Although It doesn't bleed, if you are damaging tissue and it is used as a coping method, it is considered self-harm. If you are struggling with SH, don't hesitate to get in touch with someone you trust. If someone doesn't listen, keep trying until someone does. Holding an ice cube and holding it stimulates the same feeling of self-harm, but it doesn't hurt your body. For me, drawing on my arms helps me. So, I think that you should try and reach out to someone. If you are struggling, reach out to a hotline.
Anonymous
January 10th, 2016 11:25am
The result doesnt define the action. The intention does If you scratch in order to hurt yourself it is self harm. If you scratch to stop the itching its not .
It does. Self harm doesn't mean cutting or anything in specific. Self harm is when you hurt yourself in any way because you feel like you deserve it, or you need to feel, or any other reason. Remember, self harm isn't worth it. Look for help.
Yes, scratching does count if you don;t bleed because you are still finding a way to harm yourself and cause pain.
I believe so. Both deeds are psychological. Both come because of some emotional-related, deeper problem. It really doesn't matter if you bleed or not. What matters is the reason why you're doing it.
Anonymous
January 9th, 2016 6:15pm
Yes, scratching can count as self harm - even if you don't bleed from it. Self harm is described as an act to harm yourself in any way, shape or form.
If you're scratching yourself on purpose in order to feel pain, then yes it is self-harm. Self-harm doesn't need to hurt you. It's everything you do with a purpose for yourself to feel pain.
Yes it does count as self harm as you are deliberately hurting yourself. It is not the most obvious form of self harm but it still counts
Anonymous
January 1st, 2016 7:03pm
Yes it does count. It doesn't matter how deep or shallow the cut is even if its just a scratch it's still self harm.
If you are scratching deliberately to feel pain would be considered self harm, however if you are just scratching, not in a deliberate, or on purpose, way, then no, that wouldn't count as self harm. Self harm is self inflicted on purpose to make them feel better. Your scratching habits are all up to you.
Anonymous
January 1st, 2016 2:49am
It depends on what your intention is. If you are intentionally scratching to hurt yourself then yes
Anonymous
January 2nd, 2016 8:08am
I believe that, with or without blood, any means of harming one self to overcome a sort of emotion is qualified.
Exsessive or painful scratching does count as self harm and should be more widely known as a form of self harm
Yes. Anything you do with the intention to harm yourself is considered self harm. Substance abuse is also considered self harm.
Yes - self harm is about the feeling of an infliction, not necessarily the outcome. While you don't bleed, you're receiving satisfaction from the sharpness or tingle of the scratching. Anything that is fostering a negative outcome, even if mild, is still harmful. While scratching isn't causing a large physical toll, it is reinforcing a negative mentality that will be harder to overcome.
Yes, it unfortunately does. Scratching is a behavior intended to cause pain. It can be dangerous. Even if it's not bleeding right now, you may cause bleeding if you continue scratching. This could lead to further self-harm and/or infection.
Anonymous
January 2nd, 2016 5:05pm
Scratching most definitely counts as self harming. You may not bleed, and the redness may go away quickly however you have still physically caused pain to your beautiful self .
Yes.physically of does because of you purposely do it then it counts because your hurting yourself..
Anonymous
January 3rd, 2016 7:33am
Yes. Self harm is defined as the intentional, direct injuring of body tissue most often done without suicidal intentions.
Any type of behaviour that is purposely self inflicted is classed as self harm as i'm aware. That could be cutting, scratching, burning, or even getting reckless tattoos. You don't have to bleed for it to be self harm.
Anonymous
December 31st, 2015 2:31am
No, scratching does not count as self harm. People scratch themselves because they are itchy. But if you scratch yourself to the point where you bleed it can be counted as self harm.
Anonymous
December 31st, 2015 3:42am
I used to do this ... and, if you are like me, it was the physical pain that distracted from the emotional pain, regardless of what method was used. That being said, if you're using physical pain as a means of coping with emotional pain - putting a label on it doesn't change the fact that you are truly hurting inside. I hope you find a healthy way to cope with that pain while you heal emotionally. . .
Yes. If it makes you feel pain or you can see you skin gets different it means you are harming yourself. And you are worth it so don't do this to you. 😊😚
Yes. Self- Harm is considered anything where you're hurting yourself physically or mentally. Scratching is one of self-harms many forms. Trinchotillomania is also a common one. If you find yourself sub-consciously scratching your arm then i recommend you find another form of self-expression or release. It is, however, slightly safer than cutting.
No scratching can be for many things, an itch, a mosquito bite, so no. Unless you scratching with a knife or some kind of blade,
Bringing any sort of harm or mistreatment to yourself can certainly count as self harm. Just because one type of self harm might be more severe than others, it does not undermine the act itself.
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