A lot of the time, it's self-punishment for things that I feel guilty about... for deeds that can't be undone... and the notion that I need to hurt myself as punishment for hurting someone else. But sometimes it's a way to calm the chaos in my head, if I've had a very stressful day (I liken it to smokers who "need a cigarette" when they're stressed.) On rare occasions I've done it in a kind of "celebratory" way (don't know how to explain it... the endorphin release, maybe?) I've also done it as a kind of preemptive way to deal with anticipated stress (knowing that stressful situations were imminent)... sort of like, when I'm in the middle of the stressful situation, I feel like I've already begun to deal with it in a way... by living the current stress through that cut, and it sort of calms me.

Things that I've used in replacement: meditation (big help), watching funny shows/ movies (there really is something to be said for comic relief.) I also started working out, which was not meant to be a diversion from the cutting... but I found, as a sort of "side effect," that it calmed my cutting urges. I think, again, that it has to do with the endorphin release.

For me it is my parents and people around me. I always think/know that I am not heard or cared about as much as some people in my life so it makes me do it.

Also, I have anger issues and I'm bipolar so that triggers it because I get angry easily and it's my outlet.

Another thing that makes it worse is my OCD because I can't do just one cut I have to do at least 6 because that's my number...

Also, bullying&&rumors but thats a different story.

For me it's usually anger and frustration and SI is the only way I can vent this anger (or at least I think that's the case). Once I'm in a negative frame of mind, thoughts can be racing around in my mind and I work myself into a state. I suppose bleeding gives me something else to focus on and puts everything else into perspective.

Having said this, I'm getting stressed at the moment over things I need to get done before I move in with Dad at the beginning of October. I'll also be leaving a lot of friends and I'm feeling guilty about various things. All this could cause me to SI.

i self injure for the following reasons: to feel alive, to focus on something other than loneliness, anxiety, fear, and sadness even if it is pain......the reasons don't really change, they usually stay the same.....now i keep my hands busy when i feel like self injuring and i tell my parents when i feel like self injuring.....i keep myself safe

I cut to punish myself. If I feel embarassed, guilty, hopeless, uncomfortable, or fat. It also helps ease my mind. I love watching the blood flow because it feels like all my shame is flowing with it. It's calming. I've also cut planning to kill myself but then I stop before I go too deep because I start to think. I realize how many people I'd hurt. I start to think that maybe it's not worth it.

Guilt
Punishment for eating, saying the wrong things,
Dissapointong my man, bad self image, soon bad at
School , to feel something when I feel
Nothing. Etc etc, you get the pic