have you ever purposely harmed your self...?

Question

again... I am NOT hurting myself, just wanting to know just how common this is, especially in people OVER the age of 30.

Answer 1

Ok.. First of all to those who said that people who harm themselves are sick or stupid... Get a clue. Do some research and You'll find that it is more common than you think and it's not done for attention. It's done to cope with overwhelming emotions, anger, sadness, frustration, etc... Secondly-yes I've harmed myself. By overeating, by slapping and pinching myself, by scratching into my skin

Answer 2

Yes. I've cut myself with an X-acto knife, and later a straight blade that's meant to go in a multipurpose knife of some sort. I haven't done it in about two weeks, but I honestly doubt that will last (once I fail this dev bio exam I have due Monday, for starters).

It was never for attention. Nor was it a typical teen drama kind of a thing. It's more that it's a release of built up frustration with myself. I almost said anger, but I think frustration is more the right word most of the time. It'll be like I said or did something I regret, or often times I remember something really small from a few years ago, and then I'll just be so angry with myself and the only way I can stop thinking about it is to hurt myself. I started when I was 17, which is older than most people start. I'm 19 now.

I know I don't fall into the over 30 catagory, but you might be surprised how many self harmers do. It's usually thought of as a teen issue. I think there are several reasons for that. First, there's some population of people who do cut themselves for attention. And since their goal is to be seen, those are the ones we see. That's mainly a teenage thing. Second, emotional issues and just general stress tend to pop up for kids around the time they hit puberty. Sometimes it's hormone-related and goes away on it's own, but I think a bigger factor is that sooner or later someone (parent, teacher, etc.) finds out, and the kid gets help and stops cutting. So they're not going to be an over-30 cutter, even though they likely would have been without intervention. And third, it's easier to hide it as an adult. I've always been a private person, so I didn't have much trouble keeping my arms covered once I started cutting. But it's a lot easier now that I'm living away from home, and no one expects people my age to be cutting anyway since it's thought of as being mostly limited to middle and high school kids.

Answer 3

Well, I used to cut when I was way younger. That was over 12 years ago. Before it was the "in thing" to get attention.
I did a lot of cutting on the tops of my wrists and on my ankle. I wasn't trying to kill myself...it was an odd way of being in control of my own body and emotions. I had a really ****** up childhood. Typical sob story.
I don't think I'd do it again now that I'm almost 30. There are other ways of releasing that pain and anger.
I look at the scars sometimes and question why I felt that was the only way I could deal with my family life. I wish I had been able to talk to someone instead.
My boyfreinds ex used to cut after she had a nervous breakdown at 32. She had some pretty serious mental and physical problems.

Answer 4

I'm not over 30, so I won't answer to the first part. I just wanted to add that the average cutter is usually a female in her twenties, just so you know. I have heard of people who self harm over 30, and it is more common than people seem to realize. There is no definite answer as to percentage or whatever, cause most people don't tell others about it. Self harm occurs more often in females than in males.

Answer 5

yes ,i used to burn my self with cigarets(not to prove i was tough either) id beat my head agent hard sufaces ,punch things so hard my hand would swell to 2 or 3 times its normal size.
i have a lot of emotional isues ,dealing with frustration being th bigest .bi polar disorder is no help .
i went to group therapy (lots of women in that group only for men during the 5 years i went) i also met with a psychioatrist every month and a psycologist twice a week for a long time .
right now i am not seing any one due to finacial isues ,but ill be the first to admit i need the help still

chuck age 35

Answer 6

yes by over eating. with depression i went towards food and overeating is just as bad. can cause heart problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, any and all health issues could have occured even death and i am over 30.

Answer 7

That depends if you are a sick minded individual who thinks their life is horrible, yet can't even imagine what it's like living in a third world country. Life isn't short, who the hell knows if u get a second chance, make the most of it.

Answer 8

It exists,in women more frequently than men, in cases of serious psychopathology (usually with multiple diagnoses)

Don't do it.

Answer 9

it is more common than what people would like to admit to.

Answer 10

no i have not purposely harmed myself, do u think i"m that stupid