Why can't I stop self-harming?

It is very difficult to simply stop self-harming. I found it very useful to give myself permission to self-harm, BUT only after I'd done a few self-soothing activities, such as going for a walk, taking a bath or a shower, listening to music I loved, and so on. It also helps to talk to a counselor or even someone else who has managed to overcome self-harm. The bottom line reason you find it difficult to stop self-harming is because it is a fairly effective, short-term coping strategy. It might be useful to Google the term: "self-soothing strategies" for tips on other ways to soothe painful feelings.

Sometimes when people self-harm, it could become an addiction. This could be because you simply like feeling pain or you just can't stop because you keep having a bad/sad day and so fourth. I believe though it can be stop as there are other strategies, such as, rubbing an ice cube on your arm/wrist/tongue even, having an elastic band/ponytail on your wrist and snapping it against your skin, use a red marker even just to draw the marks to make it look like it, etc... So I believe it can be stop but if you really can't then it is more likely an addiction.

Short Answer: Psychology. Self-harming is an addiction. Like drugs or alcohol or even soft drinks. And so it is just as hard to stop doing. Don't be hard on yourself, you're try to kick an addiction. That takes time and commitment.

Self harm becomes an addiction, and it is indeed really hard to stop. Try your best, and if you believe in you, you can make it! :) I wish you the best of luck with it

Usually once you have self harmed it becomes addictive! It becomes this thing that you need to do every time that you are upset. Instead of self-harming, try to talk to someone about how you feel, why you are upset, etc.

Like most drugs, you can get addicted to doing things, you like how it feels so much that it just sticks with you. If you have an addiction issue please look into the addiction support community here on 7cups >> https://www.7cups.com/forum/AddictionSupportCommunity_131/

Self harming can easily and quickly become a habit. It provides a release for emotional pain, by turning it into physical pain. This can become a habit easily as in the short term, it can help you feel better. It can cause a rush of adreanaline also, increasing the desire to do it. The easiest way to quit is finding alternate activities such as drawing, rubber band snapping, music, etc... when you get the urge to self harm. Remember that it takes time.

Sometimes we have feelings within ourselves, that we feel must be expressed in certain ways. From what you have said, you have expressed these emotions through self harm, which you have felt is your only way of coping. There are many other people out there just like you, who have a hard time coping with these emotions in safe ways. We have many articles on 7 cups that discuss self-harm, and how to receive help. We not only have listeners on here, who you can express your emotions to, but we also have therapists as well, who would gladly help find different ways to express those emotions!