Does scratching count as self harm if I don't bleed?
Anonymous
on
Dec 30, 2015
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Yes, any intentional harm to your body is self-harm. Hurting yourself in any way shape or form, is serious. Even just thinking about is very serious.
Anonymous
on
Dec 30, 2015
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Yes, some way you are looking to inflict some type of pain although you may not bleed but scratching without and itch is the first step of self harm which leads to more self inflicting pain. That can't undo the hurt within.
Anonymous
on
Dec 30, 2015
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Yes. It's not a requirement for you to bleed so you can call it self-harm. Inflicting pain on yourself, with blood or not, is still self-harm.
highopes
on
Dec 30, 2015
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it does count as self harm as long as you're tempting to hurt yourself are distract yourself from your mental pain by a physical one
martigue
on
Dec 30, 2015
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Yes. Not all types of self harm require blood. Of course, no bleeding is preferable to bleeding, but it's still self harm.
gekko
on
Dec 31, 2015
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If you're scratching yourself on purpose in order to feel pain, then yes it is self-harm. Self-harm doesn't need to hurt you. It's everything you do with a purpose for yourself to feel pain.
Anonymous
on
Dec 31, 2015
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No, scratching does not count as self harm. People scratch themselves because they are itchy. But if you scratch yourself to the point where you bleed it can be counted as self harm.
Anonymous
on
Dec 31, 2015
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I used to do this ... and, if you are like me, it was the physical pain that distracted from the emotional pain, regardless of what method was used. That being said, if you're using physical pain as a means of coping with emotional pain - putting a label on it doesn't change the fact that you are truly hurting inside. I hope you find a healthy way to cope with that pain while you heal emotionally. . .
gentleDreamer72
on
Dec 31, 2015
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Yes, it unfortunately does. Scratching is a behavior intended to cause pain. It can be dangerous. Even if it's not bleeding right now, you may cause bleeding if you continue scratching. This could lead to further self-harm and/or infection.
1004angel
on
Dec 31, 2015
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Yes - self harm is about the feeling of an infliction, not necessarily the outcome. While you don't bleed, you're receiving satisfaction from the sharpness or tingle of the scratching. Anything that is fostering a negative outcome, even if mild, is still harmful. While scratching isn't causing a large physical toll, it is reinforcing a negative mentality that will be harder to overcome.
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