Does/Did anyone self-mutilate as an adult?

Question

Self-mutilation can be pretty common among teens (cutting, burning etc), but I don't hear of many adults doing it. Do any? have you heard of any, or have you done it yourself as an adult?

Answer 1

I am 36 and have been a self injurer since I was 19. I tend to mainly burn, but have also cut many times.

Answer 2

Yes. I do it. It's most common among teens, but there are plenty of adults that do it as well. There's a forum I visit occasionally about self harm, and it has a section specifically for adults that self harm, because it's thought of as a teen issue, and there are different issues that adults face around self harm that teens don't. I also came across a Yahoo! Group at one point that was for people over 30 who self harm.

BTW, I really dislike the term "self-mutilate." It makes it sound more twisted and negative than it really is. I prefer the term self injury. Self harm is a broader term, that includes things like eating disorders and overdosing as well as self injury, which I used in the previous paragraph because those forums do deal with other forms of self harm.

Answer 3

I guess stabbing one's self is kind of self mutification. But now my counsellor thinks it was the antidepressant I was on cause I had lots of bad side effects from it.

Answer 4

I have a family member that did and she got mental heath treatment and solved this for her. She has bipolar and only when drinking would she get off on this action....the person can be treaated to stop this if they will accept that its not normal for them but most don't want to....

Answer 5

No i have never self mutilated

although i did burn myself cooking once but i guess that doesnt count =]

not only is it illogical , its also against my religion .

so never have and never will