Thanks for asking this question! It can be really difficult and confusing trying to understand why people may self-harm, and we’re really glad that you’re reaching out about this and asking more about this topic, as we’re sure people of all ages are probably wondering the same thing.
It’s difficult to answer why exactly a person may choose to self-harm because we don’t know what that person is going through and what kind of struggles they’re dealing with, and because self-harm is so personal, there’s definitely no straightforward answer to this question.
There may be multiple reasons as to why someone may self-harm, however often times, self-harm is used as a coping mechanism in order to deal with certain struggles that someone is dealing with. Although we want to encourage people to open up and talk about their emotions and deal with them when they’re ready, we understand that sometimes it may be hard to talk about certain situations and struggles you’re going through, and that talking to someone might not be a viable option at that moment. So the constant internalization of these emotions may cause people to turn to self-harm in search of an immediate stress relief or escape from the pain they’re feeling. And while we aren’t judging someone’s self-harming behavior or coping mechanism, we would encourage people to consider whether self-harm is a healthy or unhealthy coping mechanism. There’s great risk of serious injury or even death with self-harm, whereas other coping mechanisms such as exercising, listening to music, or writing in a journal, may be healthier in the long term. While cutting is a coping mechanism that many people turn to, it’s important to ask yourself, “What else helps me deal with stress?” It’s important to have options for coping strategies so that we don’t rely on just one method to help ourselves through a difficult time. We should have a variety and multitude of hobbies and people we can turn to in times of distress.
Talking to someone about things that are going on and affecting your health, mentally or physically, can be really beneficial to help relieve some of the burdens you carry. Connecteen is always here for that, and we would love to talk with you, whether it be about what you’re going through or even discussing your hobbies and other coping methods you can develop from your everyday life. Additionally, professionals in your community, and your friends and family, can become good resources for you to help navigate self-harming and how to maintain a good mental health and mindset every day.
Connecteen is always here to talk with you and provide support! If you feel like self harming, or want to talk more about self-harm, we would love to chat! We are always here, so you don’t need to go through anything alone.
