Are aspies generally self destructive? body mods etc.

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lithium73
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06 Jan 2010, 11:52 pm

Maybe its and Aspie thing or maybe its a depression thing but i find that i go through phases of self inflicted stuff almost as some form of release. ie. getting a new tattoo or adding a piercing. My current work is a pain in the arse because its uber conservative and they dont take well to the concept of a 35 year old male with dyed hair and a lot of metal through the ears. I can hide the tats though which is a good thing. Just wondering if anyone relates to the spiral of emotion that leads to this end. And whether its common amongst Aspies.



buryuntime
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06 Jan 2010, 11:57 pm

self-inflicted why? Because you are obsessed with such things, because it's some kind of emotional release, or because you are not very sensitive to pain (same reasoning as why someone with autism would bang their head against things)?



lithium73
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07 Jan 2010, 12:01 am

probably badly worded, not self inflicted as in DIY just in the sense of getting it done as some form of release rather than hey that looks pretty or hey im bored.



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07 Jan 2010, 12:28 am

For a lot of people, it's kinda like a rite of passage. The more primative cultures have rites where pain is inflicted. When the event is over, th eadolescent becomes an adult. That may be a reason people get piercings-to go through a rite. In the western culture, these rites of passage are non-existant-sans getting a driver license.

Others find a calming in the pain, and others find spiritual awareness in the pain.

I don't think you'll narrow the reasons to a few, but you might find reasons that you'll understand.

Take care


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Rain_Bird
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07 Jan 2010, 12:48 am

I have no body modifications at all. I don't even have my ears pierced (and I'm a girl). My parents both have tattoos and my brother has some weird ear piercings and wants tattoos. I find all of that stuff pointless and laugh at people who do those things to their bodies for the sake of "individuality" (since everyone these days has a tattoo or piercings it doesn't seem very "individual" or "unique" to me). If you have them because you actually like the look of them, great, but don't do it because you want come across as a nonconformist or whatever.

(No offense to anyone who has body mods. It's just not my thing).



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07 Jan 2010, 12:56 am

I think piercings are downright gross. But that's just me.

Anyway, I suppose I have a sort of self destructive stim for reopening wounds (yuck, I know.)


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07 Jan 2010, 1:21 am

I like pulling hair out of my skin down there. I've been doing it for ten years. But I have pierced ears, and have thought about in the past piecing my upper ear. I used to pick my scabs but I leave them alone and now and I try not to pick at them. I do pop my pimples. I have so many scars on my chest from my acne which are hard to see. My back, I have no idea, I can't pop back there but I try picking.



Michael_Stuart
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07 Jan 2010, 1:44 am

I wouldn't say I'm self-destructive, no. I do pull out my hair while playing with it, but it comes out really easily and I don't feel any pain so it's not really destructive.



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07 Jan 2010, 2:18 am

I have no ear piercings either. I did have them once but I was forgetful with the aftercare and let the holes close up. I occasionally entertain myself with the thought of getting a tattoo, I just have no idea what to get and where to put it (I'm definitely not getting a "tramp stamp" above my bum crack though, maybe something small and not often visible).

I didn't really feel much when I got my ears pierced. It was like a hot sensation with only a little sting. I wouldn't bother getting them done again as I'm not bothered much in terms of dressing up my ears with dangly sparkly things, plus the aftercare stuff is a hassle for me.



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07 Jan 2010, 3:11 am

I can hurt myself without paying for it. haha.

I've had a lot of self-destructive tendencies over the past two decades (basically since I was ten). Now I don't know if it's an enjoyment of pain, or a hate of the self, or a 'trying to feel something' motivation, but it happens.

Depression I don't believe is a cause, plenty of people are depressed and they don't self-harm or seek pain.
Asperger's, also, doesn't seem to fit.
Perhaps you're just a masochist? Or you find that it's the only thing that actually relieves your anxiety.

Personally, I don't think it matters what the reason is. Make wise choices as to the placement of these tattoos and piercings, and you'll have nothing to worry about.


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barbedlotus
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07 Jan 2010, 3:18 am

Moony wrote:
I think piercings are downright gross. But that's just me.

Anyway, I suppose I have a sort of self destructive stim for reopening wounds (yuck, I know.)


I have the same problem. I just can't leave a cut alone. The scars from just a little scrap are ridiculous, but I just can't help it. I've wanted a tattoo for ages but I'm afraid to get one because of the habbit of picking at cuts >_<.



mechanicalgirl39
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07 Jan 2010, 3:28 pm

Why do you assume that modification = self destruction?

Would you look at a girl with two gold earlobe rings and assume she was being self destructive??

To answer your questions, yes, I have modifications. I have a lip ring, a nose ring, ear piercings, and a surface piercing above my pubic bone.

I have a slight obsession with metals. I feel deficient if I am not wearing any.


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mechanicalgirl39
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07 Jan 2010, 3:33 pm

Moony wrote:
I think piercings are downright gross. But that's just me.

Anyway, I suppose I have a sort of self destructive stim for reopening wounds (yuck, I know.)


I do, this, because I HATE scabs, they freak me out. Last time I had a major cut I had to bandage it up so I wouldn't tear at it incessantly.


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Last edited by mechanicalgirl39 on 07 Jan 2010, 5:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.

KazigluBey
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07 Jan 2010, 3:55 pm

I've four tattoos in the following locations: left shoulder, right calf (outside), left calf (back) and my finger (wedding band). Additionally, I am looking forward to getting a 3/4 sleeve on my left arm--which will probably create the desire to have a matching right arm. If I can come up with some more ideas, I'll probably get more leg work dones as well. I've also been considering having my septum re-pierced, but due to my line of work, I may have to simply just wish.



alana
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07 Jan 2010, 4:49 pm

Rain_Bird wrote:
I have no body modifications at all. I don't even have my ears pierced (and I'm a girl). My parents both have tattoos and my brother has some weird ear piercings and wants tattoos. I find all of that stuff pointless and laugh at people who do those things to their bodies for the sake of "individuality" (since everyone these days has a tattoo or piercings it doesn't seem very "individual" or "unique" to me). If you have them because you actually like the look of them, great, but don't do it because you want come across as a nonconformist or whatever.

(No offense to anyone who has body mods. It's just not my thing).


it's weird isn't it, how it did used to be outside the norm and now it is mainstream. I think the 'tramp stamp' officially killed the point of having tatoos. My body can't tolerate metals so I can't even wear earrings either. I feel more nonconformist NOT having a tattoo.



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07 Jan 2010, 4:58 pm

I think it is how some people are wired.. some peoples endorphin systems are set up so that they get a rush from pain. I dont have this, I am insanely sensitive to pain. But I can understand the idea of it. Also, self-inflicted body stuff can be a sort of OCD thing.


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