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Grand Member
Member Since Jan 2018
Location: USA
Posts: 816
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#1
Do you think there has to be a minimum amount of damage/pain to be considered "self-harm"? Is it the intent that matters? When someone bangs a fist on a table because they are angry is that self-harm? How about pinching yourself to keep yourself awake?
I guess the reason I ask is because I'm trying DBT...and yes, self-harm is one of the things that I want to stop. To be honest it isn't even in the top 10, but DBT therapists seem to be big on stopping it. My self-harm is usually very mild. I'll stick a paperclip into my skin just until it hurts a little, but not enough to break the skin. Today I banged my head against the wall. It didn't hurt. It didn't even hurt afterwards even when I pushed on it. I just don't know if that "counts." I don't want to write it down if it doesn't count because she's kind of a jerk sometimes. But I don't really want to lie either. I have self-harmed where I break the skin or bruise myself, and I would definitely count that, but it seems like kind of a grey line to me. |
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Legendary Wise Elder
Member Since Jul 2018
Location: CA
Posts: 27,329
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#2
I don't know what qualifies for DBT. For myself I think it depends on the intent behind it or the emotion behind it. Did you mean to hurt yourself when you banged your head? Even though it didn't hurt, did you do it with the intent to hurt yourself and make yourself feel better. If so that is probably SH. I don't think there has to be a bruise or there has to be a break in the skin. I don't think pinching yourself to stay awake is SH but that is just IMHO.
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Grand Member
Member Since Jan 2018
Location: USA
Posts: 816
6 70 hugs
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#3
Yeah...I probably did it to make myself feel better. It was probably self-harm. I don't feel particularly guilty about it. I did agree to try to stop doing it, but it isn't my top priority. I'm trying to decide if I will feel more guilty about not disclosing it or shame for disclosing it. I also tried a lot of things before resorting to it.
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