why do I want to self-harm if I've never done it before?

Some people get the desire because they feel numb. When you go through so much pain in your day it is easy to shut off your feelings and sometimes it can be hard to reconnect back with those feelings. Others may use it to distract themselves from the pain around them that they suffer from in their lives.

Perhaps you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed, depressed, and are having trouble getting relief and coping, so self-harming may seem like an option. Avoid it because you will only feel worse in the long run and be hurting yourself. It is not a solution to your problems nor a good way to cope. I recommend other coping strategies such as meditation, exercise, and a creative hobby like music, art or blogging. Incorporating these activities into your life can help you feel much better and provide an outlet for negative feelings and stress.

Some people want to self-harm because they want a distraction from whatever they might be dealing with. It focuses your mind on the pain instead of everything else going on. Some people also self-harm because they want to feel something. They may block out all emotions because they don't want to deal with what they are feeling. Other people may hurt themselves because they feel as though they deserve it. They feel like they need to be punished so they take it out on themselves. People also do it because they want to release tension and want to experience a temporary feeling of euphoria and relief.