Self Injury...

[sarahgotsissues]

I am not really sure where this topic belongs.

Every now and again I self injure. I never cut myself, and I am totally NOT suicidal at all!!!
Sometimes I just get so angry with life that I either start scratching my arm until it is raw, or I light a lighter until it is hot and then just put it on my skin.

Does anyone else have this problem?   

[gloomy]

Does the pain make you feel better?  Or do you do it in anger?  Or is it desperation and sadness and you need to feel the release?

[sarahgotsissues]

I think it's a combination of everything you listed. it's really strange.
It's like a release.

I feel like it's the only way to get the pain out. And I don't even know what I mean by that.

[sadgirl]

Hi Sarah i also have this problem. I cut myself when i am very upset or i scratch myself with my nails. For me it does feel like a great release and to have something phsical to go with the pain i feel if you understand that. With me i think as well that i do that because i do want people to see it because i want them to help me feel better but it isnt really for attention.
I've heard about doing things like drawing on urself with a red pen helps instead of cutting and apparantly putting an icecube on your arm will give you the same kind of feeling without damaging your body by burning yourself. I hope that helps you :)

[sarahgotsissues]

Thank you sad girl!
I know I don't want anyone to see it. I hide it as well as I can.
I did tell my best friend not too long ago, so now I tell her whenever I do it.
I just burn the crap out of myself sometimes and it's hard to hide. I just say "whoops, how did I do that?".
Hope to talk to you on chat soon!
 

[apple]

When my depression was at its worst I cut myself...I did it whenever I thought I had hurt someone I cared deeply for.  It was a way to punish myself and to focus on physical pain rather than the emotional pain I couldnt handle.

I finally told my councellor and she said it was common for people to do this.  I was surprised that many people do this.  I didnt feel like such a freak after that.  As my depression was treated and I started getting better I slowly cut less and less and finally stopped.

I wish we never had to come to this place of self injury but I know how it saved me a few times.

[babyfish13]

ok i cut myself untill i bleed. but just because i felt i was going to hurt someone and didnt want to so i hurt myself. luckly i love my mom and i told her. then we told my theropist. but i havent did it since.

i think you should stop

your parents love you. they dont want you hurt.

[sadgirl]

Im glad you stopped. i told my mom about it she said she had never noticed and then we never talked about it again she said the way i feel is pretty normal for my age. telling her did help though, i have managed not to cut myself but to just scratch my arms instead.

[sarahgotsissues]

I never CUT myself. I always scratch it until it's raw and bleeding.

[pippip]

Sarah I know your post is sortof old but i just saw it and wanted to respond so I hope you read this. Whenever I was going through a really bad time last year I was super stress going through my first breakup and a bunch of other crap i scratched myself and burned myself with hot water. I didn't like the idea of blood or leaving evidence like cut marks. I didn't do it like everyday but when I was faced with something it just relaxed me and helped relieve the stress its wierd but it did. I went to therapy and as the anxiety and stress went away and I learned to cope with it I stopped doing it. Are you seeing a therapist or on meds? They can work wonders. Once your anxietyimprovesmaybe you won't feel the need to harm yourself anymore