why does cutting make me feel better but then bad afterwards?

It may make you feel good in the moment, but then you have to worry about what you've done afterwards.

It makes you feel better because it takes your mind off of what is wrong at that moment in time but afterwards you feel bad because you know what you did was wrong and you’ll have that scar as a reminder of a tough time in your life.

It gives you control of some pain and also takes away some of the emotional pain by refocusing your attention to the physical pain but in the end, doesnt solve the main issue that bothers you.

Self-harm is a temporary and ineffective coping mechanism to mask our negative feelings. It’s a “band-aid”, and all it does is produce a stronger sensation so you can forget that you’re sad or angry or anxious. Once that wears off, those feelings are back. It’s important to learn better coping behaviors that allow you to lessen the feelings rather than try not to feel them.

You cut yourself in the heap of the moment. You’re just angry or upset and it’s something that you share with yourself that makes it a relief. You feel like the blade is ‘taking away the pain.’ And once you’re done and you see the scar you’ve left behind you begin to feel sad because you weren’t strong enough. You let your emotions empower you and due to that you have destroyed your body in return.

To begin with, in a moment of despair, self-hate or anxiety, cutting can feel like a form of escape or a physical release from the pain and panic we feel in that moment. It could also feel like a form of self-punishment or like a way to 'feel' something when our emotional body is numbed by feelings of depression. After we have self-harmed however, we may experience guilt or even embarrassment. We may fear that someone will see and judge us, or we judge ourselves as we may feel we lack self-control and that our self harming is a sign that we are no longer able to handle our everyday lives. Ultimately, it can be upsetting to know that we are using self-harm as a coping mechanism rather than cultivating self-care/love. Cutting is just one form of a self destructive coping mechanism which can serve as a temporary 'fix'. Other examples include excessive alcohol consumption, taking drugs and engaging in self-hateful thinking.

Self-harm often is coping mechanism that provides some relief that is only short term. The pain of a cut can release endorphins which make you feel a little better but not for long. You probably seem bad due to guilt or shame or the belief that cutting is not a good coping mechanisms. There are many coping skills that can provide you relief without the bad feeling afterwards.

It is not uncommon for cutting to make you feel good at first. Cutting triggers a release of endorphins in the brain which cause you to have an actual high, their purpose is to act as “painkillers”. But once the chemical is gone, you probably feel somewhat guilty or ashamed of yourself. I want to add that although cutting may seem a temporary and useful coping mechanism, it is very addictive and in the long run becomes extremely detrimental to you and your mental health. There are listeners and therapists here on 7 cups who understand, and are more than happy to help you through this. Remember that whatever is making you feel the need to self harm, you are bigger than that and you most definitely can overcome it ❤️

It release the pain in my head and often let's me feel something when I feel numb. However I then have these cuts and s are I feel I have to hide and the pain is horrible the next day. If my family or friends found out I don't know what it would do it makes me so anxious

Cutting temporarily releases chemicals that make you happy and feel better but after that wears off then you're usually left feeling guilty and upset.