Why do I think that self-harm is the answer?

Similar to being happy, self-harm releases chemicals called endorphins from the body. This creates the illusion that you are happy when you are in pain. Your body notices this and begins to feel happy when you self-injure.

Self harm is something that we can control, we make the decision to do it. Sometimes when we're in tough times we just want to be able to be in control which is why we self harm. But there are multiple alternatives out there that give you that same feeling of being in control! Such as the butterfly project, when you want to self harm you draw a butterfly and if it fades with no self harming it's flown away and is now free :)

I used to think it was to when I was a kid. Took the internal pain away and made me feel better. It's not the answer though sweetheart. It really isn't. You'll only regret it later. If you need to cry then cry. That helps so much more. If you're bottling up anger maybe a (kick) boxing class might help or even a martial arts. You don't need to feel self conscience about going to these classes either as there will be many others in those classes trying to reach their own personal goals. If anything you might even meet new friends through them. I can't force you to stop cutting, but I really do hope you do. You're worth so much more than that and in time you will see it to :) I wish you all the best sweety. Please take care. If you need to speak with someone you can speak to a listener on here or please contact you're local doctor to refer you to a specialist that may help you.

You might think self-harm is the answer because it gives you a release, a control of your pain, even if it is temporary. You might also do this to punish yourself for an imagined wrong you have done.

because people want to feel a different kind of pain then the one that they are feeling at the moment

When we feel the urge to harm ourselves we often feel empty, or void, of emotion. Self-harm is a relatively quick fix to a problem that most likely will take time to solve, and it allows us to feel something even if it is just a small prick of pain.

Because self-harm gives you the feeling of control in your life. This is one aspect of your life you can completely control, and that can feel good.

You think self-harm is the answer because it makes you feel something. It reliefs you from emotional pain, and by that it supposedly make you feel better. There's other ways to feel alive, such as doing sports.

Well, self-harm can be caused by a lot of things like depression, anxiety, self-consciousness and I could go on forever about what can cause it. In my case when I was self-harming I was struggling with my manic depression during a down swing "depressive state" for quite some time and I had to let the pain go away somehow. However, I received treatment and help from my therapist and my family and it helped me feel better about myself. But no matter what you shouldn't self-harm in any way. You matter what you look like or what other people think of you, you shouldn't self-harm. Everyone is beautiful in their own unique way no matter of skin color, race, family, sexuality, big, small, skinny, fat, or whatever you have your own beauty inside you. You make yourself you not what other people think or say about you. Don't follow the social norm be weird, eat that cake, treat your self be you!

Because it's the only way you use to cope with your problems. It makes you feel better in that moment, so you think it's the answer. But it isn't.

i used to but there are so many better things in life to better yourself and health. you are worth so much more than that.

because you think that your meaningless on this earth, but your not. you are so much more than that.

Self harming serves as a distraction, as you'll momentarily forget about the issue bothering you at hand. You'll be focusing on the act itself. People self harm for different reasons, but some people do it to escape a situation temporarily and receive a form of temporary escape, or to not feel numb. However, it is only temporary and can become an addictive habit. It is best to talk to someone if you intend on hurting yourself, and if necessary, consult a professional counselor to discuss the issue further.

Often self-harm seems like a flawless 'quick fix' for depression and anxiety, etc. I mean, there's no argument to if it is effective or not. It helps, and that's why we keeps returning to it, even if it's harmful. The problem is exactly that it is harmful... what has helped me is finding something just as effective but not harmful to myself or others. I figured out the exact reason why I turned to self-harm... for me, it was because it was a wonderful distraction from my depression. So, I found something that was just as effective. Something that was a sensation, but not harmful. What I've found that helps distract me but won't harm me is free-flow writing, and rubbing ice on the spot I would usually self-harm. So, identifying why self-harm is effective and finding something else that is effective but not harmful. Best of luck! You are very strong!

I definitely used to use self harm as a way to cope. People think a lot that it is about getting attention, but I remember harming myself only in places where it was hard for people to see the marks. I did it because it was easier to feel that pain then the mental anguish I would feel.

Self harm is a way to make emotional pain visible and physical. Its takes the abstraction out of the suffering we feel and gives us a point of focus. Self-harm is never the answer- its a poor coping mechanism which is why as active listeners and mental health professionals alike intervene.

It creates immediate release. To go all sciencey, self harm creates an injury which forces the brain to create endorphins(happy hormones) to compensate for the pain, which makes you feel better immediately however this is only short term as feelings of guilt and regret seep in over longer periods of time due to it.

Because when a person self harms, its because they're in a great deal of emotional pain, enough pain to seek out a more drastic form of relief. Sometimes emotional pain can be so severe that it causes someone to prefer to feel physical pain. The temporary relief you get from self harm can make it seem so worth it. It makes it seem like the answer. It also feels good to have a distraction, something to help you stop thinking about the negative thoughts and feelings. Thats why, although temporary, it can seem like self harm is the answer.