Self-harm (SH) or deliberate self-harm (DSH) includes self-injury (SI) and self-poisoning and is defined as the intentional, direct injuring of body tissue.

The motivations for self-harm vary and it may be used to fulfill a number of different functions. 

These functions include self-harm being used as a coping mechanism which provides temporary relief of intense feelings such as anxiety, depression, stress, emotional numbness or a sense of failure or self-loathing and other mental traits including low self-esteem or perfectionism. Self-harm is often associated with a history of trauma and abuse, including emotional and sexual abuse.

Self-harm is not limited to humans. Captive non-human animals, such as birds and monkeys, are also known to participate in self-harming behaviour.

Although the person may not recognise the connection, self-harm often becomes a response to profound and overwhelming emotional pain that cannot be resolved in a more functional way.

Many people who self-harm state that it allows them to “go away” or dissociate, separating the mind from feelings that are causing anguish. This may be achieved by tricking the mind into believing that the present suffering being felt is caused by the self-harm instead of the issues they were facing previously: the physical pain therefore acts as a distraction from the original emotional pain.

Alternatively, self-harm may be a means of feeling something, even if the sensation is unpleasant and painful. Those who self-harm sometimes describe feelings of emptiness or numbness (anhedonia), and physical pain may be a relief from these feelings. A person may be detached from himself or herself, detached from life, numb and unfeeling. They may then recognise the need to function more, or have a desire to feel real again, and a decision is made to create sensation and ‘wake up’.”

Source: Wikipedia 

How can I explain it? It’s very difficult for me. It’s not something I would talk about, yet here I am, struggling to form words in a foreign language to explain something I feel deep, deep inside my mind.
How can I explain it?
It’s like when I listen to Chopin or Schubert. Overflowing blood is probably one of the prettiest things I’ve ever seen.
Still, the thought that someone else - anyone - could come to see these cuts scares me. Because they’re perfect; ruby red on pale skin, almost like a work of art; but they wouldn’t understand it. So, you see, it’s not always true, what they say.
Drawing attention?
Screaming for someone to hear?
Looking for someone to stop this habit?
Bullshit.
Why?
Because these cuts are fucking beautiful. 

switchbladesandcigarettes:

fuckthisimaunicorn:

cudeinyourpants:

But that’s not the worst that could happen. You could DIE first of all. You could get sick. It could get worse. Honestly if I cut myself and my children saw I wouldn’t really care. Well I would on the extent of them judging me. Now them thinking it’s okay. Honestly, one of the ways to prevent your children from doing that is love them. Tell them their beautiful. And just be there for them. Don’t abandon them.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^yo

All the above is pretty much bullshit to me. When I cut there was no chance of me dying, at all. And very little chance of getting sick or anything, the amount of antiseptic creams and sprays I now own, and bandages, is unreal… You have some control over it, it’s not like you’ve got the largest kitchen knife you own and you’re slashing willy-nilly at your arm. 

One of the ways to prevent your children from doing that is love them? Oh now this makes it sound that it’s children of neglecting parents who cut. My parents always made it clear that they loved me, that they were proud of me, that they thought I was beautiful, and that they were always there for me. But wow, look at that, I ENDED UP WITH DEPRESSION AND THIGHS FULL OF SCARS ANYWAY. It had nothing to do with how my parents treated me. They didn’t abandon me, haven’t ever, and have always tried to be supportive. 

But if my future children see my scars… which I hope they won’t, most are on my legs and I’m trying to reduce them, the rest can be explained away… then I’d feel bad. I’d hate for my child to think it was the right thing to do because I’d done it, and that it was all okay. 

If they ended up cutting anyway, then I’d be as supportive as possible, and help in anyway I could. But if they started cutting because my scars put the “okay” for it in their head, then I’d hate myself. 

*Completely agrees*

(Source: boys-and-mascara-always-run)

But it’s not true.
I strongly believe that with the passing of the time, you’ll be able to nearly forget the bad things happened in the past.
Let’s take mourning, for example. A few people I knew in the past - really important ones - died, and I used to cry over their death almost every night. I still do it nowadays, sometimes, but  it’s different. It’s less frequent, less painful, less everything.

Or about space. That’s the same. Running away won’t do the trick? I’m not sure about that. It’s all a matter of perspective. I think that changing environment is one of the most effective things to do if you want to forget, let’s say a person. Or a bad memory. Or if you want to completely cut ties.