Hi, just wanted some thoughts on this. I kinda got into sh out of curiosity. Though there was an underlying reason to it, it’s not yet a strong driving force that made me do it. I feel like I’m doing it for fun, like just collecting scars? Or sometimes just to feel the ache. I’m not looking for attention but it feels like I wanna do it just for fun. I don’t see how self harm can be bad other than it hurting honestly.
Hi there relaxingpumpkin7875, thank you for reaching out today!
I hear that you got an underlying reason as to why you started to SH even though it was out of curiosity. I want to gently push back on the “just for fun” framing, not to dismiss what you’re saying, but because the way you described it is actually worth looking at more closely. You mentioned there’s an underlying reason, even if it doesn’t feel like a strong driving force yet. You said you like collecting scars and feeling the ache. That’s not nothing, that’s your mind and body finding something in the experience, even if you’re not sure what yet.
Its bad because it tends to escalate over time, it might take more to feel satisfied, and the habit might be harder to step back from in the future. What’s more is that when it comes to SH, accidents might happen where you might not intent for it to happen but one wrong move and things might turn for the worse.
I am not sure if you had tried alternative coping methods like snapping a rubber band on the wrist, eat/holding of ice, using a red marker to draw on arms or wrist, or a combination of all of them? These are safer approach to creating that ‘feeling’ without actually harming yourself.
However, I do acknowledge that there are times where no other coping methods helps and it is not something that anyone can stop overnight. But if you do cut, please tend to the wound, disinfect, and if it got infected, please see a doctor. As for support, you can always reach out to Mindline at 1771 to speak to a counsellor.