Why do I think that self-harm is the answer?

i used to but there are so many better things in life to better yourself and health. you are worth so much more than that.

because you think that your meaningless on this earth, but your not. you are so much more than that.

Self harming serves as a distraction, as you'll momentarily forget about the issue bothering you at hand. You'll be focusing on the act itself. People self harm for different reasons, but some people do it to escape a situation temporarily and receive a form of temporary escape, or to not feel numb. However, it is only temporary and can become an addictive habit. It is best to talk to someone if you intend on hurting yourself, and if necessary, consult a professional counselor to discuss the issue further.

Often self-harm seems like a flawless 'quick fix' for depression and anxiety, etc. I mean, there's no argument to if it is effective or not. It helps, and that's why we keeps returning to it, even if it's harmful. The problem is exactly that it is harmful... what has helped me is finding something just as effective but not harmful to myself or others. I figured out the exact reason why I turned to self-harm... for me, it was because it was a wonderful distraction from my depression. So, I found something that was just as effective. Something that was a sensation, but not harmful. What I've found that helps distract me but won't harm me is free-flow writing, and rubbing ice on the spot I would usually self-harm. So, identifying why self-harm is effective and finding something else that is effective but not harmful. Best of luck! You are very strong!

I definitely used to use self harm as a way to cope. People think a lot that it is about getting attention, but I remember harming myself only in places where it was hard for people to see the marks. I did it because it was easier to feel that pain then the mental anguish I would feel.

Self harm is a way to make emotional pain visible and physical. Its takes the abstraction out of the suffering we feel and gives us a point of focus. Self-harm is never the answer- its a poor coping mechanism which is why as active listeners and mental health professionals alike intervene.

It creates immediate release. To go all sciencey, self harm creates an injury which forces the brain to create endorphins(happy hormones) to compensate for the pain, which makes you feel better immediately however this is only short term as feelings of guilt and regret seep in over longer periods of time due to it.

Because when a person self harms, its because they're in a great deal of emotional pain, enough pain to seek out a more drastic form of relief. Sometimes emotional pain can be so severe that it causes someone to prefer to feel physical pain. The temporary relief you get from self harm can make it seem so worth it. It makes it seem like the answer. It also feels good to have a distraction, something to help you stop thinking about the negative thoughts and feelings. Thats why, although temporary, it can seem like self harm is the answer.