Why does everyone assume you are a cutter when you say you self harm, when there are so many other ways?

Answer 1

I think for the same reasons that when people have a mental illness, most uninformed people wrongly assume it means they're axe murderers that need locking up.
There is such a stigma to self harming, and the media when it does do any articles always only focus on cutting. There are never any researched and well informed articles that the general public could read and learn from.

Answer 2

One sees the immediate and most visible solution as the only solution to the problem.
When one talks about self harm .. the most visible thing that goes with self harm is cutting and if you are in this part of the planet suicide by hanging ...
But these thought should not come to ones mind as this body is different from the mind and the mind being part of the body has no right to harm the other parts ...
If you have watched national geographic .. you must have seen even a tigress holding its cubs in its mouth without harming them .. the same teeth is used for killing the prey bu it doesnt harm its cubs .. the same way make your brain a good parent for the body and see that you and the persons whom you feel can harm this body .. do not harm it in any way
Live a nice life child and see the world just like a little toddler sees it ... full of curiosity and happiness...

Answer 3

That is a very good question. i would say it is because cutting is the most common type of self harm, even though there are many other ways to hurt yourself. Are you asking this because you self harm in some other way besides cutting? Cutting has been around since "biblical" times, it is even mentioned in the bible! But you usually don't hear that much about the other types of Self harm, even though there are many...

Answer 4

Well what do you do then?

I have just been reading a bit of your history, questions etc... This has been going on for quite some time. I know you do not want to hear this, but I think you may need to go on medication. I have been depressed before as I am a depressant and go up and down often. I went on meds then off then on and so on. Until I was on the brink of taking my own life. Knowing I did not want to die I seeked help. You feel alone because of your friends, and your parents separation. Until you let someone help you it will only get worse. I feel for you I really do. I have been very down and it sucks to say the least. Why are you continuing to sit in your misery? It does confuse me. You are looking for something, but you truly are going about it in all the wrong ways. I really hope you do turn your life around for the better. You sound very young. Believe me it does get better. You have to start the process though. You sound like a bright girl. Use it to your advantage and start believing in yourself some more. Stop being so hard on yourself all the time. YOU are OK. You just need to believe it.

Answer 5

Because self harm is physically harming oneself. Some people use it to describe all self destructive behavoir (eg. reckless sex, drug abuse, intentially overdosing), but that would be incorrect usage of the term. The most common form of self harm is cutting, although many people engage in burning, scratching, head banging, bone breaking etc. Because cutting is the most common form of self harm, people assume that is what you are talking about.

Answer 6

Because that is one of the most well-known ways that people would self-harm themselves...it's not a new thing and it's not healthy either...it's been around for centuries

Answer 7

What a thought-provoking question. I must confess to be one of those you refer to.

I suspect it's because it's often alluded to as self-harming in the media. Other means of self-harming, such as drug abuse, alcoholism and over-eating, are referred to by these terms, but not when it comes to cutting.

Come to think of it, you're completely right. Thanks for the advice!