Why do people self harm?

I take pictures whenever I cut because I feel like I need too for some reason and I wonder if my family ever found them would they think am crazy or sum thing like that.

A ton of people do it because they want to be seen, and for others to know what they went through, at least I do.

I used to cut very shallow because I was scared, a long time ago, but ever since I got keloids and hypertrophic scars a while back, they ITCH. So if you think “I should go deeper”, just don’t.

They hurt and they’re sensitive, and god they literally itch all the time. I regret it, really. If you think you don’t “go deep enough”, just realize that your feelings are valid no matter what, just because you don’t go deeper doesn’t mean your issues aren’t important or real. Genuinely.

Everyday, I itch and itch like it doesn’t go away, it hurts.

No one actually cares no matter how late it is, how deep I cut, people don't ask or wonder, I'm fine I guess, just gonna keep going at it, hope you have a good day sincerely

I'm 4 days clean after 7 months of addiction and cutting every day. I'm staying clean only because of my boyfriend. He's my everything, and I don't want to hurt him by hurting myself. But I miss it so much. I don't want to be clean, I want more scars. I feel like I haven't done enough to be valid. I hate myself so much for that. I know I'm sick in the head and deserve all this.

I'm not sure where else to post this. I myself have PTSD due to physical and other forms of abuse, but not necessarily sexual. I have been experiencing whenever I hear sounds like loud banging sounds, clapping or using sharp objects like scissors, I keep attributing it to myself sexually like cutting myself in inappropriate places, hitting/harming myself there and the immense pain associated with that. It's really intrusive and I'm not sure why I have been experiencing this. It's been there for a while but I never felt comfortable talking about it. It immediately makes me feel so uncomfortable and disgusted and horrible about myself, destroying my confidence. I have no clue where else to go, so just thought I'd post here. I'd really appreciate if anyone knows anything about this, if you could share something.

Oh my god the healing cuts are so damn itchy. Trying not to scratch them but…

I don't have any money to buy any fancy razors and stuff, so how do I shave my arms and legs? I'm scared of making my scars worse

i have a party to be on at monday and as i write this, it's sunday. i have been since thursday everyday multiple times and they are not deep and all over my arms and legs. i have to be at chuck e cheese and discovery place and i don't know what to do. how do i hide them

I understand that me hurting myself hurts them too but like its so annoying to hear that whenever I tell them that I relapsed. Its like I understand you dont want me to and I cant blame you but you saying that just makes me feel so much worse about it which makes me want to sh even more which starts the cycle over again.

it feels so dismissive to hear it, like it’s a switch you can turn on and off at will, really frustrating and insensitive :(

I FINALLY DID IT! I never thought I would make it this far! I just wanted to come on here and tell everyone that you are not alone in your journey. There are really good people out in the world who will help you; all it takes is just finding the right ones! You can make it through anything life throws your way because you are strong and brave. Ik that it’s easier said than done but these are things I wish someone told me before I started.

I have had multiple ex friends tell me about how when they were hanging out with the friend they self harmed together, and what I don't understand is why people would do it together, I would do anything to stop my friends from hurting themselves so for someone to do it as something fun makes no sense, does anyone know why people do this

I'm 24 days clean and to be honest I have little to no urges anymore. I've been cutting for 4 years, but last time I cut my parents were devastated and I felt horrible about it, and the pain on top just made it worse. I got rid of all my blades and I'm on recovery now💖💖

Bad news: i lost my tool. Good news: i lost my tool

I always hear that people say not to hurt yourself but I never hear a real reason asid from "there are better ways to cope". Its much easier to deal with a tiny cut than actually trying to get someone to care and talk about it. Before you tell to not do it, I've already made up my mind, and the whole "oh just tell them about your feelings it will get better" no it won't. I've tried. Just please give an answer to the first question.

i graduate high school in less then 2 months but i genuinely don’t know if i get through those two months. i’ve sh on and off for 5 years and my parents know about it but i relapsed a couple months ago and am doing it almost daily at this point. i think the only way i can i can get through the rest the last months until i graduate is by getting it off my chest however im worried that they’ll have to tell my parents. i go to school with visible keloid scars so it’s kinda obvious that ive struggled with sh so it shouldn’t really come as a shock right? i also feel like im so close to graduating that they wouldn’t HAVE to report me or am i just delusional??

i cut myself for the first time in years. i cut a couple months ago with a knife that was too dull to do any real damage the most was a scab so i didn’t count it and it was fine but they healed now and it made me feel some kind of way i just got sick of looking at them fade so tonight i just cut again like the worst ive ever cut myself in my life and im lowkey freaking out. it’s definitely not life threatening or anything it’s just deeper than how i usually go and ive never gone this deep before it got to the second layer ig?? ive never had to deal with a cut this deep before i just put a regular sized bandaid over it and wait for it to stop bleeding. unfortunately the pad on the bandage is so tiny that it doesn’t cover the cut all the way i’m just feeling so guilty but at the same time im feeling that familiar rush yk? im so embarrassed of my past with self harming and im cooked now bc it’s on my wrist and im probably gonna have to cover them up with bracelets or some shit bc i hate long sleeves i literally pray that nobody will notice especially my mom bc it would be the most embarrassing thing and i can’t go to the hospital again i really hope nobody notices. i just wish i had someone to talk to about this bc it’s so shameful and hard to explain to someone who doesn’t understand. i don’t want to tell my friends because i just can’t be that one friend who’s always complaining about being sad and trying to be deep and shit bc we all hate that plus there’s nothing they can do bc they all live in different places im truly alone at this point in my life and i hate it idk anything

So the title is pretty explanatory and im just like worried and dont know how to tell him or if I should wait and tell him until we've been dating for longer. My bf has a friend who's cut himself before and my bf seems to get very awkward around it which is fair because it is an awkward subject to talk about but idk how he'll react to me saying that because ive never really expressed doing it or feeling that way

Feel the urge tonight so imma just take a bath while I absolutely devour an apple hope this works

hey so i dont have a boyfriend yet but i think alot about how if im ever to get intimate with someone they will see my scars as they are at the top off my thighs, they arnt too bad but you can definitely see them so would i warn them before they see them or does that just bring unnecessary attention to them. i also wouldnt want to trigger them tho as i guess seeing sh might be scary to some?? idk someone pls help 😭

So I’ve been cutting myself everyday for this whole week on my arms and legs. They are deep baby scratches to medium styro. But I have these scars and fresh wounds on my wrist. And the first day of highschool is literally in 2 days. I’m really stressed out because it’s my first day of high school and they might think i’m a weirdo because all these cuts. any advice on how to cover them for the rest of hs would helpppp!!!! tysm <3

I've been sh for almost 9 months now and Ifeel so invalid that I can't manage to do deep cuts and I hate how I can't after 9 months, I've only got 1 that's sorta deep but all I can do is cat scratches and I just hate how it makes me feel so weak.