Depression Support Group
Depression is a real and debilitating condition that is often misunderstood by family and friends. Its meaning can range from a prolonged period of sadness to an actual mental illness with specific symptoms. Find and share experiences with others who are going through the same struggles.
*TRIGGER*
This is a discussion of the merits of LIGHT NOT DANGEROUS self harm so do not continue if this offends you.
*TRIGGER*
I know some people will be pissed off by this but I hope that they can move past that to see what I'm trying to say.
I, personally, don't see why people make such a big deal out of LIGHT self harm (well kept surface cuts, the odd not too hard wall punch etc *NOT DANGEROUS SELF HARM*) but having a few more cigarettes or glasses of wine or shagging about etc is way more tolerated.
All these behaviours are dangerous to our health and can very quickly spiral out of control so why does SH get singled out?
Is it just because the others are more socially acceptable or is it really a worse way of coping?
This is a discussion of the merits of LIGHT NOT DANGEROUS self harm so do not continue if this offends you.
*TRIGGER*
I know some people will be pissed off by this but I hope that they can move past that to see what I'm trying to say.
I, personally, don't see why people make such a big deal out of LIGHT self harm (well kept surface cuts, the odd not too hard wall punch etc *NOT DANGEROUS SELF HARM*) but having a few more cigarettes or glasses of wine or shagging about etc is way more tolerated.
All these behaviours are dangerous to our health and can very quickly spiral out of control so why does SH get singled out?
Is it just because the others are more socially acceptable or is it really a worse way of coping?
Otherwise I still feel euphoric or, if I am cutting while feeling down, I level out and feel 'normal' for a while.
(which is NOT a normal reaction, so if anybody's reading this with panic attacks don't try it, it doesn't work for most, I've had friends that tried, DON'T do it!!!!)
That would bring about that feeling. The way I saw it, an orgasm is a huge release, so I never saw it as that strange. Just another form of release, triggering very similiar feelings. Sex is a buildup relased by orgasm...bang...and all is happy and mellow.
Anxiety is a very negative "buildup" so when it's released by cutting, it only makes sense (to me) that the feeling would be very similar.
As far as SH goes, there's a taboo stigma attached to it because up until recently it was never talked about or discussed, and it's looked at as purely a result of mental illness.
I don't think it'll ever be as accepted as other forms of self harm.
You don't go out for a cut-fest with friends after work, you'd be looked at like a total freak if you suggested such a thing. But, going for a beer is an accepted, almost taken-for-granted social activity.
Kind of like PS3 games and online games like World of Warcraft. The former can be played with a big group of people, cheering each other on and competing. The latter is usually played when a person is alone. These two types of games also have very different stigmas attached to them, the former being much more "accepted."
I can't say I play the online games so I don't have a very viable viewpoint on them, but hopefully that made sense.
It's a singular thing by nature, so it's viewed differently. I think you got it right with the brain chemicals...that makes total sense to me.
Of course the reality is that, due to the social element, more of than note, the more accept vices are the most damaging because there's that egging people on mentality, the peer pressure element that can be difficult for some to overcome or resist.
More often than not*
the more accepted*
for me, all of the "little things" i have used over the years to self medicate have turned into full blown addictions.
thanks for making me think this morning.
I had absolutely know idea how reliant I had become to self medicating (taking an overdose, but not enough to die) until last week when something horrible happened and I found myself fighting off a very, very strong urge to swallow "just enough" pills to sleep for 2 days.
Because I had the foresight to recognize that I was literally shaking and wrought with a craving, I saw it for what it had become.
A coping addiction. I called my psychiatrist as a way to be held accountable, and then turned to this site and created a thread explaining that I was trying not to over medicate, and instead spent about 2 hours posting music in my thread.
It worked. And now when I'm upset, I go back and listen to the music posts I created.
My point:
Small self harm or Light self harm is a gateway to MORE self harm and not a healthy coping tool to solve or even uncover the underlying problem, which is pain.
So the hard questions have to be asked:
What is causing me to self harm?
where did the pain originate, in my childhood?
What are the triggers, etc?
Self harm is not healthy in anyway, because it is a gateway to a more dangerous form of harm and it prevents us from dealing with the underlying issues.