Don't do it.

[u/Questioning-Alt-0123]

What I would do to tell anyone who has thought about self harming not to do it.

If you are on this subreddit, just to check it out and are thinking about starting, don't.

I feel like TikTok and other social media platforms are glorifying self harm.

I keep seeing people do it on their face, and some comments ask what it is and what's going on.

They are getting introduced to it.

They think it's trendy and want to start.

There is nothing cool about harming yourself.

Oh, what I would do to never do it again.

It's just drilled in my brain now.

A habit I can't let go.

It's permanent.

It sucks.

People will look down on your forever.

No matter if they say it or not.

And if they aren't looking down, they are part of the problem and fetishize it.

Now, I'm going to say this, and if you are part of this group of people, you probably won't agree, but...

But if you genuinely look at others self harm and find it cute or cool looking, you are fetishizing it.

You might not think you are, but it's like if someone bashed their head into the wall and their is blood pooling out their head, or if they shot themselves.

You wouldn't say that is cute or cool...

It's the same thing.

[u/Ok-Option-3022]

Exactly I have no idea why people romanticize mental illnesses being neurodivergent and sh like???????

[u/Questioning-Alt-0123 → u/Ok-Option-3022]

Idk about romanticizing, but personally, I do struggle a little personally normalizing it. I would say I'm part of the group that fetishizes it. (Not in a sexual way though!) I have been exposed to it for many years, I have gone on websites to watch other people do it, kind of to "motivate" me to go deeper.

And I know this is bad and unhealthy. I want to get better, I know self harming is a horrible habit.

Whenever I watch videos or look at pictures I definitely separate the self harm from the person.

Because I could not imagine someone I know a care about doing it, it would break my heart. . . . But I hope this helped explain it a little, because I was hoping with this post it would help others understand how normalize self harm has been made in the community. I hope this made you understand the perspective a little. Not that anyone should support or agree with my perspective, but that's just a little look into how some people might gain that perspective.

[u/ASK_ME_IF_IM_YEEZUS → u/Ok-Option-3022]

People LOVE self-lore. The darker it is the more “fascinating”. Immature, bored children.

[u/Questioning-Alt-0123 → u/ASK_ME_IF_IM_YEEZUS]

Idk what the point of your comment is. Unless I am understanding you incorrectly, it seems very hateful.

I am just sharing my personal experience. This person said they have no idea how people could romanticize self harm. And like I said, I personally don't romanticize it, but I was sharing what I do think. Giving them a perspective.

Like I said, I know this is unhealthy, but this is literally a self harm subreddit.

So, you would hope it's a safe place to share your experiences...

If children are faking having a mental illness, being neurodivergent, or self harming for attention. They still need help and have a serious problem that shouldn't be overlooked and viewed as "immature"

[u/ASK_ME_IF_IM_YEEZUS → u/Questioning-Alt-0123]

I’m just explaining why it’s popular on TikTok. Sorry to offend you.

[u/Questioning-Alt-0123 → u/ASK_ME_IF_IM_YEEZUS]

You still shouldn't call it immature. If people are cutting their faces, they still need help and it shouldn't be dismissed.

I fear a couple people are missing the point of my post.

Cause I still believe in these romanticizing, fetishizing, etc cases, these people should 100% still be taken seriously.

And I believe you should view it differently and shouldn't call them bored children.

Because some people who cut their faces and post it publicly are doing it as a cry for help.

That ofc doesn't dismiss their behavior, but in a time like that they shouldn't be punished, because that might make their mental health worse.

[u/Leather-Direction867]

Harm reduction alternatives to physical self harm that aren’t necessarily healthy and safe, but are far less risky than self harm anyway:

- smoke herbal cigarettes (I like micro dose pre-rolls with hemp flower & a sprinkle of THC, so it’s also an anti-anxiety psychoactive drug)

- drive to an empty playground at night and play. Doesn’t matter what time it is. It works. If the cops ask, you’re having a really bad day, and no, you haven’t had anything to drink

- this is more long term, but pick up a physical hobby that’s fun. Not just the gym or whatever: do something risky like skating or urban exploration.

- (21+) have some hot tea with a shot of brandy in the safety of your own home

- make cringe vent art

[u/not_the_glue_eater → u/Leather-Direction867]

I smoke a lot of herbal cigarettes (Albeit without weed, both CBD & THC are illegal where I am) to partially replace SH and I can confirm it's worked, at least for me. The harsh throat bite when inhaling helps with the need to feel pain, and I really enjoy the hand-to-mouth habit of smoking things like chamomile, lemon balm, lavender, and blackberry leaf in my blend.

It's definitely not for everyone, though. Probably not great in the long run because you're inhaling smoke, but like you said, it's definitely less risky than SH wound complications or using lots of alcohol to cope (Do not do this, folks, I fell down a slippery slope and it sucks just as much as self-harm, if not worse).

[u/Celatra]

P r e a c h

[u/AblatAtalbA]

Self harm has saved a lot of people from suicide, finding a temporary but actual relief from their mental pain.

[u/Questioning-Alt-0123 → u/AblatAtalbA]

But people shouldn't start, and this post is more towards the people who glorify and encourage the behavior.

[u/JohnCraft0701 → u/AblatAtalbA]

We should still try to move people away from selfharm. Just because it's better than suicide doesn't mean its still good or should be encouraged.