Do you think self harming is a mental illness?
@iamnotyourdoctor (142)
Pakistan
April 6, 2018 12:31pm CST
You guys must be aware of self harming and what it is, (if not then you should be).
You know, 1 out of 5 females and 1 out of 7 males engage in self-injury. It's pretty common. Self injury isn't trying to commit suicide. It's just hurting yourself in any way. It's not only if you cut or burn your self up. Pulling your hair and scratching aggressively is also considered self harming. If you call yourself bad named or think bad about yourself is also a kind of self harming. It's just whatever hurts you in any way and on any level.
People think it's only for attention seeking but what they don't know is, any person even someone sitting beside them can be self harming and they would never know. And for god sake it's not a mental illness but just an unhealthy coping mechanism associated with powerful emotions.
4 people like this
9 responses
@faithhhyyy (322)
• United States
8 Apr 18
I can answer this question very easily. It is apart of a mental illness. When you begin to cause harm to your body, you are expressing all of the feelings that are bottled up inside of you. It is a way to let go of your demons in a very grotesque way. I use to harm myself because I was depressed. However, I have found other ways to manage my depression in a better healthier way.
2 people like this
@iamnotyourdoctor (142)
• Pakistan
10 Apr 18
But still it is not a mental illness itself. One wouldn't call such person mental I'll. It's just that they let out their feelings in a rather different way.
@faithhhyyy (322)
• United States
10 Apr 18
@iamnotyourdoctor That is true! I wish there was more we can all do to help those who are having problems. Raise awareness about the stigma of mental illness. How to cope with those feelings and have someone to talk to.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (223776)
• Chile
6 Apr 18
The list of self harms is long. I´m sure that each of us does something.
2 people like this
@marguicha (223776)
• Chile
10 Apr 18
@iamnotyourdoctor I would be writing a long time if I made a list of people who bite their nails or pull their hair.
1 person likes this
@chavezrmc (6095)
• Philippines
7 Apr 18
Surely it is. How would one with the right way of thinking inflict harm to himself./herself. This behavior should needs medical attention.
1 person likes this
@chavezrmc (6095)
• Philippines
10 Apr 18
@iamnotyourdoctor I believe that self harming is a behavior disorder, and when we say behavior it has to do with our attitude and attitude has something to do with our thinking.
1 person likes this
@iamnotyourdoctor (142)
• Pakistan
11 Apr 18
@chavezrmc still behavior disorder and mental illness has a huge difference dear :)
@toniganzon (72533)
• Philippines
7 Apr 18
It's not a mental illness? How is unhealthy coping mechanism associated with powerful emotions differ from a mental illness?
1 person likes this
@iamnotyourdoctor (142)
• Pakistan
10 Apr 18
Mental illness link to disruption in neuronal signals so there is actually an electrical imbalance going on in the body. Self harming is just away to distract yourself of psychological pain with a much real pain or a feeling of euphoria attained by endorphin release.
@MainerMikeBrown (1373)
• Bridgton, Maine
6 Apr 18
I had a friend from high school who didn't harm himself physically. But he'd harm himself emotionally by telling everyone how he thought that he was a screw-up and a loser. It was sad.
1 person likes this
@db20747 (43440)
• Washington, District Of Columbia
28 Apr 18
@iamnotyourdoctor yes, but we must convince them they R not the problem!!! The other people R ! The probl outside of the hem! The focus is on getting rid of the outside problem!!!
@iamnotyourdoctor (142)
• Pakistan
28 Apr 18
From a self Harmer's point of view, why one shouldn't harm their selves. It's their body after all.
1 person likes this
@MainerMikeBrown (1373)
• Bridgton, Maine
6 Apr 18
Those who cut themselves aren't trying to hurt themselves. Instead, they don't feel comfortable expressing how they feel verbally, so they cut themselves as a way to cry out for help.
1 person likes this
@iamnotyourdoctor (142)
• Pakistan
10 Apr 18
Not always. Pls read my replies of other comments. Many of the self harmers harm their body in places which are mostly covered.
@yukimori (10148)
• United States
6 Apr 18
There are a number of mental illnesses that contribute to self-harming behaviors. Powerful emotions are often a catalyst, and it's true that self-harming behaviors are an unhealthy coping mechanism, but there are often deeper issues at play that require therapy, medication, or perhaps a combination of the two to help the individuals work through them and adopt healthy coping mechanisms.
1 person likes this
