• selfharm_

  • Why do people self-harm?

    Those who self-harm usually experience:

    • Emptiness
    • Inability to understand or express feelings
    • Loneliness
    • Fear
    • Past abuse
    • Depression

    They often feel helpless or powerless with regard to their emotions. They are more likely to have low self-esteem, depressed or anxious.

    Thus, inflicting pain to oneself may serve a number of purposes:

    • A way of getting painful emotions out
    • Of being distracted from the painful emotions
    • Communicating feelings to somebody else
    • Finding comfort
    • Self-punishment
    • Attempt to gain control over life


    Self-harm is NOT about attempting suicide. It is a way to cope with or relieve painful or hard-to-express feelings.