Self-Injury Support Group

Whether you or someone you know or love struggles with self-injury, this is the community to discuss your experience, find support, meet others going through the same, and get advice on how to stop. Working together, we can help find alternative coping skills to reduce the urge to self-harm.

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Tongue biting?

flowerEx3
flowerEx3
So I am a little over a month SI-free right now, but lately I've gotten into the habit of biting my tongue. I don't do it hard enough to break skin or anything. I'll just bite down and hold on for a while. I find it similar to the sensation of having my back rubbed or hair played with. It's just comforting.

I wanted to know what you guys think of this. Do any of you do it? Do you think it counts as SI? I am causing myself pain to make myself feel better, but it's not "injury" necessarily, so I don't know. Any thoughts? Suggestions?
deleted_user
deleted_user
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but yes, you are intentionally causing yourself pain. The thought process that hurting yourself is going to make you feel better/justify something that's hurting you is still prominent and therefore it's still self-injury.

I can understand what you mean - the fact that it's similar to comforting sensations is naturally going to convince you to believe it's not hurting yourself, but I guess once we've got used to hurting ourselves, it does feel comforting. It's crazy how our minds turn around once we get used to it.

I'd say do your best to stop the tongue-biting, although I appreciate it's not easy!

And don't feel you've failed. You haven't, not at all. Just keep fighting, you'll make it :)
deleted_user
deleted_user
i agree with the person above me. although you arent breaking skin, you are still intentionally causing pain. when i stop cutting i bite the inside of my lip.

i'm here if you ever need to talk.