Why is self-harm so addictive?

This is more of a scientific answer... when you are injured, you brain releases a bunch of dopamine (Happiness hormone) to compensate for the pain. It becomes like a distraction from the mental pain that a self harmer goes through, and therefore a crutch. A fall back system that they can easily lean on when they are not feeling happy and need an instant dopamine boost. Like anything though, it wears off and then you're just left with a bunch of nasty scars. It's a slippery slope, if it's not too late for you get help immediately. I can't express this enough.

Speaking from personal experience, I feel as though self-harm is especially addictive because we become so accustomed to feeling something other than the emotional or psychological pain we have been experiencing. I faced depression for 7 years and I used to self-harm because I wanted to experience anything but the emotional trauma. Even though it was very addictive, I also tried my best to stop and have managed to do so for almost 3 years now! :)

Generally it is not the action itself that is addictive, what is addictive is the feeling of relief that comes with it.

***possible trigger warning*** Self harm releases endorphins just like any other time you feel pain. These hormones are natural opiates and work to ease the pain. Opium is an addictive drug that functions very similarly to endorphins. I have experience with self harm addiction. You don't need to be hooked on a drug to have an addiction. I sometimes cut just to cut, even if nothing bad has happened- that's the addiction. My body is craving the endorphins.

It releases endorphins in your brain that make you feel better. The next time you feel bad, your brain remembers how it felt and craves those same endorphins.

everyone deals with stress and upset in many different ways, some do drugs, some smoke, some exercise and some self harm, people who self harm want to 'punish' themselves and think they are a bad person. Some do it because it takes the pain away from where it hurts and makes them concentrate on something else.. and some people deal with it in this way.. Think of your emotions like a bottle of water, the fuller it gets the more the lid wants to pop off, if you cut it the water leaks out and its not struggling.. some people think of it like this, everyones different. try finding new ways to cope with stress. keep strong

By deliberately hurting their bodies, people often say they can change their state of mind so that they can cope better with ‘other’ pain they are feeling. They may be using physical pain as a way of distracting themselves from emotional pain. Others are conscious of a sense of release. For some, especially those who feel emotionally scarred, it may be a way to ‘wake up’ in situations where they are so numb they can’t feel anything. Overall, self-harm is a way of dealing with intense emotional pain. Self-harm has a huge impact on the day-to-day life of those who do

Self-harm, cutting, burning, ect, is a way many people find to have instant gratification. It lets you feel a physical pain so you won't have to feel the more agonizing emotional pain.

It gives control. Mental pain hurts more than physical pain, so we cut so the pain is anywhere but our minds.

Typically, the pain momentarily distracts people from other problems. Take my advice, throw away the razors and lighters and just get a rubber band. And possibly some cheesecake. That and a therapist.