Why is self-harm so addictive?

I found that usually what leads to my self harm is my intense mood disorder Borderline personality disorder. This is one of my challenges and I have a hard time saying I am hurt. I may not understand peoples experiences but yes, the endorphins play a huge part in cutting myself in any situations in dealing with my intense emotions. I have found that I need DBT for my diagnosis of Borderline personality disorder. Because I lack in my understanding on why I react this way. I did hurt myself last night due to a distressing situation because of my shame and guilt. So I am asking for help through a specialist clinic for DBT. I will have some challenges to over come but I can do this because once the addiction with hurting myself in this form starts it's difficult to stop so I am getting help last time this happened was between 14-18 years and I had a hard time coping with the emotional problems in my life also with bullying and a history of complicated eating disorders. The only thing I can do is be true to my own personal experience and seek help through my GP, therapist and realistically understand what leads to my behavior. So do struggle and I am hurt. But I am happy I will get better.

Self-harm starts out as a coping mechanism. Later on one becomes so used to it that it becomes a form of addiction. The brain releases endorphins (feel good hormones) when someone self harms, thus linking it to a positive behaviour.

Because you always want something to lean on when your sad. Once you take that blade to your skin or that lighter to you skin it makes you feel better.

Self harm often becomes addictive because it is an instant escape or release from our struggles . It also releases certain "feel good" chemicals in our body which makes us feel happy , calm and relaxed again . Self harm can also give us the feeling of regaining control over ourselves and our lives . All these things add together and make it addictive

Self-harm for me was so addictive because it was the only thing that could be controlled. There are also studies that show that there are chemicals released in the brain during self-harm. While self-harm is a real, addiction, there are several resources for help and recovery.

Self harm for some is a coping mechanism against overwhelming feelings and emotions especially negative ones. A sudden rush of hormones - the bodies natural reaction to injury makes us feel a temporary sense of relief - it made us feel better even temporarily and if it works we do it again and almost like waiting for that hormonal ' hit'. For some it is also less about harming ourselves but a way of nurturing ourselves. We can visible see and to a degree control the healing process.

Because the ability to control is so few and far between when someone is in such a dark place that having that sort of power is just as much of a relief as the rush of endorphin's.

Self harm is addictive because for some people it is the only way they know how to cope with heavy emotions. Though it turns into a vicious cycle, because it never truly fixes the underlying problem. Therefore you feel like you have to self harm over and over again to get that same relief.

Self-harm is so addictive because it can take the pain away sometimes, and we are all addicted to somthing that takes the pain away.

Self-harm is addictive because it gives you this false sense of relief that lasts quite awhile, you have control over the situation and it's covering up that damaging emotional pain you feel - only to be covered up by physical pain that will go away.

Because it makes a person feel something else. It can sometimes feel better to feel physical pain, rather than emotional pain.

Self harm is when we try to hurt ourself or punish ourself. Its sometimes so frustrating that to end the trouble we tend to just harm ourself. Addiction is because the first thing that comes in our mind at that point of time is to just end the pain.

It gives you a relief to all the pain you are experiencing emotionally and since it gives you relief it gets more and more addicting. You never want to start because it's hard to stop.

I'm not sure, it just becomes a way of dealing with your emotions when you have done it for so long - just like drinking ect.

self harm is an adiction firstly this needs to be realised and it is so addictive as it allows these porr people to feel something it can be a cryout for help

From my personal experience, self-harm is a form of relief. It helps you feel alive. And once you stop doing it for a while and if you get in that "dark" place again, you start to feel the need to be "alive" again so your brain remembers that self-harm gave you that kind of feeling.

I feel from personal experience, it is so addicting because it can become a primary coping mechanism. People may use this to feel something, or to distract themselves when something becomes too much.

Self-harm can become an addiction to an individual that wants to release their emotions. Some feel it is an outlet to let the emotions escape thus causing a feeling of relief. However, these feelings are short lived. Self-harm releases the way that an individual feels for a while, causing them to become addicted to cutting themselves, pulling their hair, biting and other actions that make them feel pain. Those who engage in self-harm often are caught in a vicious cycle and may have trouble breaking on their own, so it is crucial to seek help.

It reduces 'happy hormones' and your body becomes addicted to them and there are many other ways to get that rush.

Once it happens, it's hard to stop. Once it happens. you feel how enjoyable it actually is, and when you stop for a while, you feel like there's something wrong. it's very easy to start, but very hard to stop. Why is it addictive? Because it takes the pain away, the emotional pain, you kill the pain from the inside by self-harming. you hurt yourself from the outside, to kill the pain from the inside. the pain is constant, so self-harm becomes addictive.

Because you think it takes the pain away. But let me tell you one thing, it won't help, it didn't help me, so it won't help you

It can be addictive because it gives you a sense of control. Something that probably lead you to starting in the first place

Self harm is addictive, because it initially provides emotional relief, but then creates more guilt shortly after, therefore making you want to feel that brief moment of relief as much as possible. Sometimes people feel like they are calm afterwards, when infact they tend to feel numb instead. It is a vicious cycle because our emotions are the most powerful tool in our lives.

It gives you a sense of self control when you feel like you have none. This makes you want to continue over and over .

Self Harm is addictive because most feel its the only way to control pain. others think its a way of punishing themselves when they think they arent worth it. but i promise everyone is!!

I believe that everyone is addicted to something that takes the pain away. We're all addicted to our own self destruction

I cannot answer for everyone that has self-harmed so, I am answering for myself. For me, I would get these feelings of deep depression, anger and frustration. I would not know what to do. I'm thinking really hard about this and I think it was the fact that I felt so much emotional pain, rather than overcoming it, I wanted to feel physical pain instead. It might sound crazy but the physical pain took away from my emotional pain and thoughts and it made me feel better. I felt like cutting myself was like making wounds on my body to let the stress under my skin escape. The same way popping a hole in a balloon lets the air out, I felt the same way with my body and my pain. Feeling like this, I continued doing it because in these situations I cannot control myself, so, it became addictive. I hate myself for it because now I have scars that I don't want forever but currently are reminding me not to self-harm. After hurting myself with consequences I learned to try really hard not to hurt myself. Although, it doesn't have to be like that for you, if you are thinking or doing self-harm please, try not to. Causing pain to yourself is definitely not a good thing, it's generally taught not to hurt other people so please try to fight the thoughts. Maybe find something that is cathartic for you whether it's building, painting, singing, writing etc. and maybe try that. Okay, bye.

Self-harm is addictive because the person uses that pain to cover up their emotional pain which causes it to be an addiction.

Self harm is so addictive because the brain chemical called dopamine is released so there for you have that chemical being released and thats what causes happiness. Unfortunately you feel happiness when ever you commit self harm

Self harm can be addictive because it becomes a coping mechanism. When negative feelings arise, the only wat we know how to ease it is harm. The harm induces guilt and the we continue to use harm as a way to cope.