Why is self-harm so addictive?

One theory is that, as with any other pain, the body responds to the pain induced by the self harm by releasing a rush of its natural pain-killing ‘feel good’ hormones, endorphins. This together with the powerful symbolic meanings can lead to a very addictive habit.

Self-harm is addicted because of the immediate sense of relief it provides to someone who does it. When a person is in the mindset of wanting to self-harm, there is a high level of stress, anxiety, or depression; much the same way that someone who smokes cigarettes smokes and feels instant relief, someone who injures themselves feels an immediate sense of relief. This is instant, and the next time the feelings arise the person knows what worked last time, and they go back to it.

it's like a drug. it helps you not feel something, and the thing you crave about it is "the numbing of the thing you don't want to feel".

It can be addictive in that sence that one can controle ones pain on the outside instead of just hurting on the inside.

I'm not sure... I have the same problem... but.. idk I've tried to stop so many times and it never works

Self harm is addictive because it is like a way out of pain. When someone self harms they feel a great wave of relief and the like the feeling, they love it. Its like a drug to them. The same way that people take drugs. Because they like the feeling. For people that self harm they feel like their way of releasing anger is thr gh pain. Because the ohysucal pain takes away their emotional pain.

I began self-harming when I was first bullied six years ago. During teens, when others try to bring you down in ways that are horrendous such as bullying, you are prone to feel worthless. Once you begin harming yourself, you reach a mental saturation where you see no way out of it. You have to keep doing it. Through pain, you feel that your innerself heals. Instead, it's a temporary refuge from life reality. This addiction can be cured if treated sooner than later. Therapies and sessions can help people suffering from self harm issues. I am on my way to heal myself, too. :)

It seems to be so addictive because in the moment that you do so it seems like everything else is little and you can just focus on that for the time. It also feels like you are finally doing something that you deserve and thinking back that is really sad because you don't deserve that, you deserve so much more and to be happy.

It gives you a sense of control over what is happened. Control that you can not usually receive throughout life.

From personal experiences, I believe self-harm is a way of releasing all of the stored anger and pain through wounds. Finding someone to talk to about your concerns can be just as helpful!