self injury (formally SI)

Post Reply New Topic

not sports illustrated or metric and imperial systems or ...

thoughts on one banging their head hard on the edge of a table and punching their-self in the head... and cycling between banging/punching... why is it comforting...

and thoughts on why one would rock while sitting in a chair or while laying in bed...

Distracts from whatever emotional pain or overload you are having? Sameness calms?

Maybe it's a way to exert direct influence on an otherwise chaotic environment. Plus, neural gating effects mean that the self-inflicted pain may override external stimuli or other internal pain. In addition, some evidence suggests that SI causes release of neurotransmitters that calm the brain.

Rocking may have a similar, yet more subtle effect. When people speak in public, they often rock back and forth, often at approximately the same rate their heart is beating. In other words, the person rocking may be trying to create a metronome-like effect to calm an overamped body.

I don't really find it comforting, but it does help to sort of overpower the chaos in my head when I'm overloaded.

It can calm (at least myself) during any time I am stressed. Though I suggest refraining from doing so around others. For me Stress + some form of "self harm"/my case I don't feel it = numbness/good thing so I can start thinking clearly again. If someone does engage in some form of self harm, I'd advice trying to confine it to areas of the body where marks cannot typically be seen & avoid hitting/banging the head. Worst I've gotten from hurting myself (usually I jump around & end up banging my walls (which I don't feel at all, don't even know I hit something 'til I hear the bang from my body hitting something). Though now I'm trying to use an exercise ball & stuff to curb it so I don't damage my dorm. If someone a scratcher or skin pincher, etc. (I am on rare occasions/again half the time don't even notice myself doing it 'til I find scratch marks &/or mild bruises) they should keep their nails short (avoid fake nails).

p.s. mild bruises = small bruises on arms or legs (maybe 1 on the back) but most under the size of a quarter (less than to 3/4 in. or 1.5 cm on average/no bigger than 2 cm in diameter) and they fade off in a week or less.

I cut myself for about nine or ten years. I started when I was thirteen and stopped two years ago. I used kitchen knives, a few improvised things, like a compass, then started using razor blades. After a while I started burning myself too. I found self-harm comforting, a release, therapeutic, distracting. I enjoyed it, it felt good, and it was mine. I felt this sort of pride because it was my secret indulgence and nobody knew and nobody could make me stop. I became obsessed with caring for the wounds, buying lots of different bandages, stuff to clean it etc. It was a ritual.

Then I met my boyfriend. It really upset him. One night I woke him up covered in blood. I'd cut my arms badly and he had to take me to hospital. It was awful. It was scary. It hurt the man I love. My arms look like paninis now. I didn't do it ever again.

I still bruise and scratch myself sometimes but I never cut or burn anymore. It calms me down and gets my anger and frustration out.

I think aspies self-harm because they have trouble expressing their emotions and suffer a lot of anxiety due to their confusing existence.

i self injury for many reasons, one for sensory relief, one for helping me concentrate idk why but if i punch my head really hard i can concentreat better, one for helping me relax with everyday situations, and one for getting rid of pain... all those scenerios fits why i self injury, prob others but cant think of it right now

_________________
Being Normal Is Vastly Overrated

Yea.. it's calming. I think it's something to focus on. When everything is too overwhelming, it can be the only thing that helps block all the crap out.

A pain threshold topic

When i was much younger. I told no one. It might be perhaps like a stim. at least for me.

I quote "I think aspies self-harm because they have trouble expressing their emotions and suffer a lot of anxiety due to their confusing existence." - I agree, makes sense to me...

SI, is not something like gee I am going to put my head through a wall tonight... it is more like a way I guess to release anger/steam/upsetness and the inflicted pain distracts from "life" issues... when no one seems to care when you really wish you had a shoulder to cry on...