What Qualifies as Self Harm? Need Clarification.

I feel like Self Harm is one of those things that could be watered down to simple answers if one really wanted to, but ultimately, it's more of a gray area. I chew and pick at my skin, but I consider it a stim more so than self harm. Whereas I have performed other actions that do, I feel, clearly count as self harm. I feel like in a way it comes down to two things really: 1. Intention 2. Cause When I chew on my fingers or pick at my face, it's usually because it just feels good in a way that is pretty much mindless. Sure, it's technically harmful to myself if I do it too much, but to me it's just a bad habit more than anything. Just a self soothing, antsy behavior that has no real negative emotions tied to it. It's just something I do, the same way people bounce their foot, twirls their hair, or tap their fingers... mine just happens to also leave little blemishes behind, or give me nasty looking fingers. (But this is just ME; I'm Autistic, so some of these behaviors really are just mindless stimming. Ofc I SHOULDN'T pick at myself but most of the time, I barely even realize I'm doing it until I'm in the middle of it) Meanwhile, I have had instances where I have done something harmful to myself that I, if not deliberately then at least in a way subconsciously, knew would be harmful to myself. Physical injuries, failure to perform basic self care, and deliberately triggering alike. A lack of care in a way that to some degree I know I really shouldn't, but do anyways, because it's difficult for me to pull myself out of it, and I specifically want to see SOMETHING through. It's a way to get SOME kind of result one way or another. Sometimes this leaves a physical wound, sometimes an emotional wound, sometimes it's entirely temporary. To me, it's about the intentions. (Again, this is JUST me!) At the end of the day, nobody is out there writing rules about this sort of thing. If it's something you feel is self harm, then it is. Especially if labeling it that helps you in the end; the first part of changing is realizing. While those results feel good in the moment, they don't compare to the results of eventually finding a way out. You WILL find a way out in time, and you're definitely not alone while you're still in it either. Your grief is not caused by a genuine desire to suffer, but by a currently unmet desire to thrive. It's corny, but allow yourself the patience to get there. I'm wishing you the best 💪

Anything you do in attempt to cause yourself pain. You can emotionally self harm by doing things you know will hurt your feelings or self harm by refusing to eat. It's all about intent

Anything that has the intention of hurting yourself counts. This also includes avoiding things your body needs. Stay strong man. I didn't think my form of SH counted either but I was able to get through it, been mostly clean for three years now. It gets better

It counts based on intent like you said even if it's not visible. some people are obsessed with making it really bad, myself included, but that's a stupid trap and there's no such thing as bad enough because it could always be worse so it's a really pointless and dangerous thing to strive for

😥

Self harm doesn’t always leave a physical mark most of our deepest cuts and wounds are internal.

If you want to send me a message we can chat privately .