why does cutting make me feel better but then bad afterwards?

Cutting may make you feel better in the short term if it allows you to feel a release or distraction from periods of intense emotion (anger, sadness, et cetera) or feelings of being overwhelmed. However, many people who cut also have a rebound effect where (even if they felt better at first) afterwards they feel worse, or start to feel bad again. This may be due to feelings of guilt associated with harming themselves, feelings of anxiety about having to cover it up or hide their injuries, or feelings that they aren't able to stop. Another explanation could be that scientifically, there is also a phenomenon where, during trauma, endorphins are released. This can lead to feelings of wellbeing. However, when they fade, feelings of the opposite nature (negative feelings) creep in again.

Cutting could make you feel better by making it seem like you have control over something in your life. That is the main reason people cut. It is so they have control over something in their life. Do you have overprotective parents or parents that won't stay out of your business? That could be the reason you feel better. The reason you might feel bad afterward is that either the pain finally hits you, or you realize what this would do to the people around you if they ever found out. Those are the reasons I can think that you would feel better, then worse.

Your brain produces endorphins whenever you self-harm: it's your body's way of healing from the pain you just experienced. Endorphins are some of the brain chemicals that make us happy, and when we get a rush of endorphins, it can help us feel less depressed. However, this is not a long-term solution, and the endorphins usually run out very quickly. If it ever gets to the point where it is an addiction, you may feel you have to go to extremes to get that same rush of endorphins. Self-harm has more negative effects than positive effects: even if you feel better immediately after hurting, it won't last. Endorphins can be produced in other ways: look into ways you can feel the same surge of happiness without hurting yourself. It may take a while to train your body to no longer crave self-harming, but it will be much better for you in the long run.

When we are depressed, we often do things that can harm us. Our brain tricks us into thinking that we are worthless and do not deserve to live. Cutting makes us feel better, because it feels like we are punishing ourselves for our "sins" I'm saying this from experience. However, the reason why it makes us feek bad is because... you're hurting a person. You're hurting yourself. If it was a another erson who deals with self-harm you ob iously would not let them do that right? We should all treat ourselves preciously. Cutting does not make us feek better nor happy at all. It doesn't feel like love or happiness. But the people around us who cares for us do. There are millions lf ways on how to stay happy, our option isn't limited to cutting.

Self-harm may feel like it improves your mood when you do it because you are focusing the pain to be physical, rather than mental. We feel bad afterwards because we realize the pain is still in our hearts, and now on our bodies as well. We have not solved anything by harming ourselves if anything we have hurt ourselves more. If you feel the need to self-harm, please seek out help from a trained professional. Your safety is so important, and self-harm will not help your current mental state. It can feel shameful to reach out, but everyone wants you to be safe.

Because it feels like a relief when you do it but in the end, it does not change anything, it only makes things worse. It feels like it is going to help but your mind is deceiving you and it does not help after. Under no circumstances give in to that urge because, in the end, nothing will be better or feel better, only worst and the feeling afterwards is not worth it just for a second of "apparent" relief. Your mind is tricking you into making you believe that afterwards, the pain will go away and you will feel better, but you won't, the pain will become greater than before.

i know exactly how you feel, it feels as if all your problems go away but then once youve done it you feel almost like guilty and like you shouldnt have done it. there are many ways you can try to prevent yourself from cutting, though sometimes nothing works and that can be very frustrating, and i know how you feel, you are not alone, try distract yourself when you feel the urge, maybe talk to a friend if you have someone you can trust? if not try talk to someone on here, there are many people who can offer support and listen to you :)

I think that when you cut yourself you feel this sense of release, it’s better to feel the physical pain than the emotional pain, after you cut yourself you start to feel guilty because you feel indebted to those who care for you, you feel like cutting yourself is almost an act of betrayal to them. You feel like a bad person because you know what your doing is bad but you do it anyways. Soon you grow a habit and you can’t seem to stop, you feel unworthy and selfish for thinking about yourself enough to want to cut yourself, in reality you feel as though you don’t deserve to relieve the pain.

All forms of self harm offer a temporary feeling of "relief" from our feelings, in a way. It often gives a sense of control over life or situations. However, we often feel guilt or other less than ideal feelings after engaging in self harm because of a multitude of reasons. These reasons can include things like feeling that it causes your loved ones pain, feeling invalid (everyone's problems are valid, always), and many others. It's important to remember that you have people ready and willing to help you out and offer support, so long as you reach out to them. There is always a way to improve, and in many self harm cases, finding better, healthier coping mechanisms is helpful. Many listeners, including myself are happy to help you out. Please reach out for help and support if you need it. Take care of yourselves, you're all amazing!

T/W! I think the answer to this question varies depending on who you’re asking, because everyone has different reasons as to why they harm themselves and what sort of “better” and “bad” they get from it. From my experience, the part when it makes you “feel better” is the release it gives you while doing it. It’s a way of letting your emotions out, making you feel something, making you hurt. Becoming addicted to this feeling makes the urge to do it stronger and stronger, which is why so many people rely on self harm to get them through their lives, because it’s their means of release and sense of control. The part when it makes you feel “bad afterwards” is the guilt and the self destruction that happens once you think back to what you’ve done and why you’ve done it. Why you rely on such an unhealthy coping mechanism to turn to when things and emotions feel out of control. When you know you’re going to have to spend a huge amount of effort trying to cover the scars up and pretending it doesn’t hurt or itch when someone suddenly grabs your arm. The part where you realise and/or remember that self harm causes more problems than it solves. But it’s what it solves that is so easy to focus on and get addicted to, which is why all of this just shapes itself into a vicious circle, each part eating away at each other. Strong emotion, then self harm, causing release, then guilt and self destruction, and once again the strong emotion is back again. I think that cutting makes you feel better then bad afterwards because it’s unhealthy, addictive, and it’s mental and physical pain. We know that the “bad afterwards” will come eventually, we just choose to ignore it for the time being because the urge to feel “better” is stronger, and it comes first. -S.

In the moment you may feel a desperate need for relief from the situation that is clouding your judgement and thoughts and you are willing to cut to feel the relief you are looking for. Although in the moment you might feel as if cutting is proving the relief that you were looking for, This feeling you are receiving is only temporary and does not last. It is only masking the problems/situations you are trying to run away/get relief from but the troubles that triggered the reasoning for the cutting still will remain after that temporary feeling of relief is gone.

Cutting is no different than eating disorders, unhealthy sexual experiences, alcohol or drugs etc. to cover your feelings, or numb the thoughts racing through your head. It’s often “easier” to suppress our feelings rather than having to feel the pain and sadness they cause. Unfortunately when we resort to any negative or self sabotaging behaviors, for the moment we may find release until it’s over and we’re back to facing reality and the feelings that come with it. It’s important that we face our problems head on and acknowledge the feelings we have. Only then can we learn healthy ways to deal with them, stop harmful behaviours and begin living happier, more “true to ourself” lives

As someone who used to cut, I wondered and continue to wonder the same thing. There are many biological components to cutting; it releases certain chemicals in our brains that cause us to feel certain reactions: that "good" feeling you mentioned and the "bad" feeling afterward. I am here for you and I encourage you to reach out to the Self-Harm Recovery subforum; lots of great people and support in there. Also, listeners are here for you any time you're in need of someone to hear you out and not judge. You're taking steps each day to get through this and each step matters and you matter.

Cutting is usually used as a coping mechanism. When you cut yourself, you don't realise the actual harm in self-harming, you might do it as a way to relieve pent up emotions or stress. Pent up emotions and stress might make you feel as if you're losing sight of yourself, and for the moment, cutting seems freeing because you think you can control it. After a while though, the weight of what you actually did hits you. You relieved your stress and emotions, so after harming yourself you might feel bad for doing it because you can't actually comprehend why it seemed like a good idea in the first place.

I have felt the same way, you are not alone. For me, it is related to the stress and the pain I feel inside that I want to release somehow. When I cut, it distracts my mind and feels like it released my pain. When I calm down, I feel bad for doing it. Now, I have realised that there are other ways to calm myself down and I practice that now. I know how it feels and it took time for me to realise that I can deal with this in another way without hurting myself. I practice relaxation exercises or walk around a bit until I calm down.

Guilt's the main reason. Guilt and stress. When you're stressed out or overwhelmed by all of the strong emotions, sometimes focusing on that one point can make you feel better. Of course, afterwards once your mind is in a better place, you realize what you've done to yourself and begin to feel guilt. Another thing that's happened to me is that I'll harm myself when I feel numb. I'm so desperate for emotion that I'll hurt myself to get it. Afterwards I can get angry at myself for doing something like that. Self harm affects tons of people differently, so if your experience is different, that's totally okay. But cutting yourself isn't the best option, so please get help

I used to self harm when I was at my numbest mentally. When I couldn’t feel any emotional pain anymore I inflicted physical pain upon myself. Once feeling that physical pain a wave of emotional pain would hit me and I’d feel everything I’d been blind to. For a few moments I’d feel better. But, I’d then realise what I’d done, that I’d have to hide another cut, that I couldn’t wear the shorts I wanted to or the tshirt I had in mind. I’d then be slapped with the stigma of mental health, I didn’t want anyone to know or see what I had done. Ultimately cutting made me feel better at first because it was a way of releasing emotions but afterwards? When I then faced the reality of it again and the fact I’d have to shelter myself away because I didn’t want anyone to know what I’d done I felt even worse than I did before cutting.

When you cut (or hurt yourself) there is a rush-release of chemical neurotransmitters that "overshadows" the emotional pain you are feeling in that moment. Unfortunately that release can't last forever and your body needs to readjust after that so when your neurotransmitters go back to baseline you tend to feel worse than you initially did. Hurting yourself is not the best way to deal with overwhelming emotions but there are some strategies you can use to help deal with the emotional pain and that will also result in calming results without the "bump" afterwards. Feel free to message if you would like to talk about it. All the best for you.

Most people like the feeling of cutting for many different reasons. Some people think they deserve it, others like how it allows them to feel something again. But most of the time people don't feel "in control" when they do it. That's why they feel bad after it. Because they realize how this action is going to affect them and the people around them. A lot of people feel guilty about it. Mostly because they don't want people to know, but at the same time they are reaching out for help. Also they are embarrassed when people see them. Most people see cutting as a sign of weakness, which makes it horrifying to show them in public. There are many reasons as to why cutting is a horrible thing, but when you're in a dark place, it can be a good feeling in the moment.

Often times self-harm is a way for someone to expression an emotion they are not able to communicate or recognize. The bad feeling afterwards is the realization that there is no relief from that emotion. Self-harm creates a brief moment of reward. Alternatives to self-harm that may create that similar relief is making a marker and scribbling on yourself or doing that to a piece of paper. You may also rip/ tear a piece of paper. This way you are diverting the action to something that is not yourself, but gives you the same feeling. I would say for you to reach out to resources to helping to cope with any emotions or thoughts you may be having that is causing you to self-harm.

It's a temporary solution to a major problem. Emotional and physical pain are quite closely linked. It provides temporary release. Whilst it feels good in the moment, because it is technically drawing your attention away from the emotional pain and towards the physical pain, the feelings of guilt return soon after. These feelings will also return with quite a force, as they will return hand in hand with the feelings you had before self harming, as self harm does not "take away" the bad feelings permanently. I truly hope that you are okay, and please make sure to call your local crisis line if you feel you are in danger.

hey! so sorry to hear that you're struggling with self harm at the moment, and as a self harmer myself, i think i am eligible to answer this this question. self harm, like cutting, releases hormones like endorphins, and dopamine, which provide temporary relief from the mental pain, because it shifts the mind's focus on the physical pain, rather than the mental pain. after the effect of the dopamine and the endorphins is over (because it is temporary) and the focus comes back to the mental pain, we tend to experience feelings of shame, guilt, and anger for cutting (or harming ourselves). this cycle of emotional suffering => emotional overload => panic => self harm => temporary relief => guilt/shame is often experienced by those who self harm. if you're struggling with self harm, i want you to know that you're not alone, and you can get help for this. talking to a therapist could also reveal some underlying issues that could be causing you to self harm. there could be many reasons for that, and in most of the cases it can be helped. once again, you're not alone in this battle, and if you think you might need urgent assistance, kindly check out this crisis resource center: 7cups.com/crisis take care of yourself!

Cutting makes you feel better at first because it relieves the tension caused by your sadness/anxiety/whatever else that makes you cut in a situation. I used to have a problem with cutting and scratching so I would personally do it to take my mind off of other things, it sort of relives the tension because we think that we have punished ourselves whether that is consciously or unconsciously. Soon after the breakdown and punishment phase has subdued, we feel guilt. The guilt of hurting our own body, why we did this instead of being productive/better/whatnot. It not only hurts you physically, it hurts you mentally. Then because of that, the cycle just repeats itself every time something new happens.

I understand that cutting is a release for many people. You may be cutting to avoid strong feeling you are having. It sounds like you feel a release and maybe guilt afterwords. Personally I understand how you feel. Cutting can cause these mixed up motions to occur. Some things that you could try to get a release could be, holding a cold object, putting a rubber band on your wrist or even exercising. It is never fun to act on the urge of cutting when it brings up negative emotions afterwards. You are so strong and I believe in your recovery!

I believe it transfers emotional pain to physical pain which is easier to deal with. Also, the body releases adrenaline which dampen the pain receptors and then we dont feel pain. You probably feel bad afterwards as you may not wanted to hurt yourself but had to in order to stop the tortureous pain. Hopefully this helps. I am not sure what else to write. I guess i am very concise with my answer but they want 100 words minimum. However Inthink you may have gotten the point of what I was saying. I hope things get better for you.