Self Injury

[Peppermint4life]

Through high school and even now, in college, a day does not go by that a student doesn't say that English class makes them want to cut their self, or a mildly unfortunate event has someone pantomiming running a razor over their wrist. I've done it on occasion myself. However, 17% of college students actually do harm them self. Hell, I've done it before.

Over the past year, I've began to notice marks on some of my friends' arms. When I ask about them, in private, I'm usually met with silence or some type of subject changer. After a bit of talking, they usually confide in me. I have one friend who burns them self, two friends who cut them self.

What is your honest opinion of people with self injurious behavior? I've met people who have ridiculed these individuals, claiming its for attention. Others who have just called them freaks. Some just said they got their rocks off that way. Before my personal history with self injury, I was among some of those who ridiculed them.

So, again, how do you feel about people who perform self injurious behavior (SIB)? Have you ever done anything of the like? etc....

Just general discussion of the topic lol.

[Sansa Stark]

As a (semi) former self harmer, it's irritating the stigma of "wanting attention" surrounding the issue, as it clouds the matter at hand: If someone is causing themselves bodily harm for attention it's probably time to step up and help, because clearly they don't know how to ask for it themselves.

That part really bothers me, because people are so desensitised to things that they don't see this as ****ed up?

Unfortunately a lot of mental problems are constantly dismissed as "just wanting attention."

[Sparky]

I've never understood this stuff.

Is it a symptom of depression? I'm not going to say someone is doing something wrong by cutting themselves or whatever, it just seems a little silly.

Is self injury a symptom that gets exponentially worse until you kill yourself? Or is it just an adrenaline rush addiction?

[Peppermint4life]

Yes, and no. Its a sign of a **** load of stuff. Depression, BPD, abuse, the list goes on forever. As far as the average person should be concerned, though, its a sign they need help. Whether professional or a really good friend, that person is in trouble. Self injury, at least in my experience, is a coping mechanism, albeit a primitive one.

And I'm not 100% sure, about 90% though: people who commit suicide are more likely to have a history of SIB. People who have a history of SIB are most likely not suicidal though. The reasons people do it are pretty broad. I did it, and sometimes still do it, because I feel guilty. I believe everything is my fault. I could prevent bad things from happening to people I know. My friend does it because she hates herself. She has very low self esteem.

@Paloma I know what you mean. The reason I make the jokes I mentioned before is because I'm afraid of anyone finding out about me doing it. I don't want to people to think that about me. That I'm trying to get attention. I figure someone who makes jokes like that would never actually do it.

[hip hop bunny hop]

Originally Posted by Paloma

That part really bothers me, because people are so desensitised to things that they don't see this as ****ed up?

Self-harm is not a cry for help; it's attention seeking dressed up as a cry for help. Give them attention and you're enabling that behavior.

[DoctorSoft]

For some reason the thought of cutting my wrists is one of the few things that makes me squirm, along with thinking about getting punched in the balls and falling off something and hitting a lot of sharp objects on the way down.

Anyway, I know there are a lot of people who do it for attention, but even if they are doing it for attention I still feel sorry for them, that they feel they need to do that. The people that don't do it for attention I feel really sorry for, because I know I would have to be pretty ****ed up metally for me to do that.

[James]

I'd be quicker counting the friends who haven't had issues with self harm. It's very common at my school. I try to offer my help, what else is there to do? A large amount of them do indeed just crave attention and it's a shame because one of my closest friends had a really serious problem and tried to kill herself at one point.

[Peppermint4life]

Originally Posted by hip hop bunny hop

Self-harm is not a cry for help; it's attention seeking dressed up as a cry for help. Give them attention and you're enabling that behavior.

Even the people who try to keep it a secret?

[Paedantic Basterd]

I don't quite know what to think about it. I had many friends in highschool who would carve words into their legs and flash them around to seem troubled and hardcore, and as a result I'm afraid I don't take the matter very seriously. I suppose it's one of those things that should be considered case-by-case. I wouldn't forgive myself if I didn't take it seriously when it was critical, but I've had my fill of attention seeking teenagers as well.

[CanwllCorfe]

It's definitely quite disturbing. I listen to DSBM, which as the name implies is pretty much based around suicide and depression and all things misanthropic really. Like Black Metal, I wasn't sure how much was theatrics and how much was real. After seeing some pictures from artists like Happy Days, Lifelover, Abyssic Hate, etc. I definitely know it goes further than the music. I figured that was the case, just wasn't certain. I could never imagine cutting myself. It sends shivers up my spine thinking about it.