Why stop if it helps?

Your questions is a valid one as well as something that I use to always ask when dealing with my personal struggles. It is important to find healthy ways to cope and deal with things so that no harm comes to ourselves or others. Unhealthy habits should be prevented and stopped because after so long you become almost dependent on this developed habit; and in the moment it can be hard to see that what is being done is harmful and it may not be entirely helping with things. The relief is short lived, and this prevents you from finding better ways of coping, this habit can become addictive, and not letting go of this puts you at risk for bigger problems down the line.

Not all coping skills are positive. You would argue that someone with anorexia says I do feel in control when I don't eat, but that is not healthy. Someone who cuts says it is a release, but self mutation is not healthy.

Sweetie, it doesn't really help. You only think it does. I promise you it is so much better once you recover. It does take take some time and effort, but you can do it. I used to think that it helped me, too. But it didn't. It made everything 1000x worse. I did it. I got better. So can you.

Let me answer your question, with a question. If the relief is only temporary, why not find a healthier long term solution?

Ask yourself if it's really helping or if it's going to do harm in the long term future. If you can't come up with a good answer, you should probably stop.

Is this a drug or cutting question? Stop because it's dangerous and damaging. We have to look at what is truly "helping". quote on quote helping in one area yet killing us or damaging other things isn't exactly helping.

because it can harm you and others. think about the consequences. there must be something, even if just one. think about it.

because it is not good for you. it is not good for your mental and physical health. you have to stop, whatever the bad thing you do for yourself.

Because it doesn't help. Your mind just tricked you into thinking it does. But it really doesnt. Sometimes we think it does but then we realize it doesnt.

All these answers are valid and positive reasons to stop participating in self-harm. However, after I stopped cutting, I realized the most gratifying and relieving benefit was the fact that it really, dramatically decreased my depression and loneliness. It seems counterintuitive to a cutter or self harmer because of the deep satisfaction and comfort that these forms of destruction provide. However, having such a big secret for me to hide and constantly being reminded of my unhappiness by the cuts, created in me a greater and almost insurmountable despair. Just a week or two after cutting, I felt immediately happier and more at peace. Granted, the months that followed were tougher, but I pushed through it. And, today I'm a much happier person.