-- Posted by Anonymous at 6:25 pm on June 14, 2008 Self harming might seem stupid and crazy. but I find it to be my saviour, as I'm sure other self harmers do.  Here's the thing cutting takes a lot of effort and comitment even if it doesn't seem like it. I mean we have to look after our wounds(cuts, burns etc.) and make sure they don't get infected, we have to buy band aids and creams for our scars and we have to constantly think of where we can cut without getting noticed(although when we self harm we really don't think about that we just do it). And the hardest and easiest: keeping it a secret.  People tell us to come out and show our true feelings, but we can't because when we do people say we're doing it for attention just because we were brave enough to come out with our secret. Sometimes when people say "emo" jokes we get all defensive but have to keep ourselves under control so our secrets don't escape. Leading this kind of life isn't all too bad once you're living it, but it does get lonely and dark at times. So what I'm trying to say is not to look down on people who self harm. -- Posted by deadsilent at 6:25 pm on June 14, 2008 LMFAO!!!! -- Posted by annihilate me at 6:28 pm on June 14, 2008 Quote: from deadsilent at 6:25 pm on June 14, 2008 LMFAO!!!! Dude, not cool. You should join my group orange ribbon awareness. I self injure too. -- Posted by californication at 6:28 pm on June 14, 2008 But what if you didn't cut? Then you wouldn't have to worry about all that stuff. Seems logical enough. -- Posted by Anonymous at 6:28 pm on June 14, 2008 I'm a--as you put it-- self harmer...a masochist, actually. I don't do it for self-esteem, it makes me feel...well, if you don't know how it makes me feel look up the term masochist. -- Posted by XxAnNeXx237 at 6:32 pm on June 14, 2008 that'd true.. It hurts to see all of my scars and remember why I did it and knowing that it will never go away. No one knows about anything. Hiding it in the summer is like trying to hide the world. I'm only saying this because this is the Internet and no one knows me. -- Posted by RubberTrees at 6:33 pm on June 14, 2008 Quote: from annihilate me at 6:28 pm on June 14, 2008 Quote: from deadsilent at 6:25 pm on June 14, 2008 LMFAO!!!! Dude, not cool.    You should join my group orange ribbon awareness. I self injure too. Agreed. People tend to cut for a number of different reasons.  Whether it be for "fun," or because they're depressed, it doesn't matter. Being a self-harmer, I understand where you're coming from when saying this. I say it's pretty sad when people would rather belittle a self-harmer than help them.   -- Posted by XxAnNeXx237 at 6:34 pm on June 14, 2008 Quote: from californication at 6:28 pm on June 14, 2008 But what if you didn't cut? Then you wouldn't have to worry about all that stuff. Seems logical enough. once you start its hard to stop. It feels way to good. -- Posted by Disposition at 6:36 pm on June 14, 2008 I hope you're joking because I completely disagree with you. While I don't think that self-harmers should be ashamed, I do think that the idea of self-harm should be GREATLY looked down upon. Someone who uses self-harm shouldn't be disgraced just because of one's coping mechanisms, but one should know that the action isn't smart and isn't a way to be 'strong'. The way you describe self-harmers is fairly disgusting. You suggest that they are some how valiant for hiding their wounds and their pain. In NO WAY is this true. People resort to forms of self-harm, like cutting, because they aren't strong enough to deal with their emotions on their own. There is no commitment in 'keeping up with your cuts'. Hiding a potentially fatal secret is far from deserving glory. Certainly, self-harmers deal with lots of things, which is sad. But still. And I'm not an ignorant by-standard who is looking on to the sickness of self-harm. I've dealt with it for a long time. -- Posted by LieutenantEhren at 6:45 pm on June 14, 2008 Actually by taking it out on ones self you spare another from pain that you could bring. -- Posted by drifting at 6:46 pm on June 14, 2008 Quote: from californication at 9:28 pm on June 14, 2008 But what if you didn't cut? Then you wouldn't have to worry about all that stuff. Seems logical enough. Its not that easy. When you cut, it gives you a slight high. It makes you feel better. It releases something like adrenaline into your system, and you do actually feel better. To me, as I watch the blood drip, I do become numb. For that little bit, my pain is real, I can see it. I can feel it. When you manifest emotional pain as physical pain, you get a temporary feeling of security. That everything can and will heal, just like that cut, or burn. When thats the only thing that you have found that can make you feel like that, its very hard to give it up. Ive been going through therapy, and anti-depresents, and all sorts of other crazy things the past ten years, but the only thing that has ever made me feel better is self harm. Ever since I was little. It started with me biting and scratching myself, and later evolved. I know that sounds pretty bad, and Ill admit, it is. Im not condoing self harm, but I deffinately know what its like. I know that its hard to stop. And I agree with the OP. It takes guts. Can you honestly say you could pick up a knife, and cut yourself to the point you need stitches? Could you do that and fight the urge to complain about it, to get it treated, to show it to people, to hide it. To bury it. At least twice Ive had to go to the doctors office later on, because a cut has gotten infected, and both times they told me I should have gotten stitches, but thats the thing. I dont want people to know about it. Some self harmers do it for the attention. I cant stand that. Thats not really right. Its not really a relief, your just an attention whore. On the exact opposite, I fight to keep mine hidden, as do many other self harmers. From cutting to obscure places such as my foot and thigh, to wearing sweatshirts for weeks on end.   -- Posted by kitkat barr at 6:48 pm on June 14, 2008 you're justifying your illness. in my opinion, self harmers need help, even me. dont make excuses and try to make hurting yourself okay in your head. its not okay. and i strongly agree with disposition. -- Posted by Sunshinexxbear at 10:19 pm on June 14, 2008 Nobody should look down on self-harmers, that is true. But also nobody should embrace it. It isnt a good thing. Some people do use it as a cry for attention but they obviously need help too. There are many other ways of dealing with life's problems. Keeping busy is one of them. Take up a sport,get a job, find a new hobby, make more friends. The scars will embaress you once you realize what you're doing isnt healthy. I was a cutter for over 4 years and it took a lot of support from friends and inner strength to stop cutting. Its possible. Never give up hope. -- Posted by Anonymous at 4:32 pm on June 17, 2008 Quote: from Sunshinexxbear at 1:19 am on June 15, 2008 Nobody should look down on self-harmers, that is true. But also nobody should embrace it. It isnt a good thing. Some people do use it as a cry for attention but they obviously need help too. There are many other ways of dealing with life's problems. Keeping busy is one of them. Take up a sport,get a job, find a new hobby, make more friends. The scars will embaress you once you realize what you're doing isnt healthy. I was a cutter for over 4 years and it took a lot of support from friends and inner strength to stop cutting. Its possible. Never give up hope. It's hard not give up hope espescially when you have so little of it -- Posted by lunchbox at 4:38 pm on June 17, 2008 honestly, i dont like people hurting them selves, ever. And i understand its concepts, and i know  the world is so cold.  i wish people would be nicer to each other, cause we are spiraling downwards, and if it doesnt stop, i dont see a very long future for man kind. -- Posted by cc151 at 8:17 pm on June 17, 2008 Quote: from annihilate me at 6:28 pm on June 14, 2008 Quote: from deadsilent at 6:25 pm on June 14, 2008 LMFAO!!!! Dude, not cool.    You should join my group orange ribbon awareness. I self injure too. yeah not cool dude. -- Posted by CeramicFrog at 8:55 am on June 18, 2008 Quote: from californication at 9:28 pm on June 14, 2008 But what if you didn't cut? Then you wouldn't have to worry about all that stuff. Seems logical enough. Agreed to the max.