Why do people engage is self-destructive behaviors?

Answer 1

I know 2 people who do these things. and one of them said that they get angry about someone, and they feel that a way to hurt that person is by hurting themself. See, theres a difference between suicide, and self-harm. Suicide is where you want to kill yourself, and you do it. A suicide-attempt, is garbage, because if they did it once and failed, they will damn well make sure they do it right next time, unless they re-evaulate and decide against it. Typically with a self-destructive person, you need to find out what are they gaining by it, or what do they fel they gain from it? Attention? Pity? whats the point?

Answer 2

It sometimes depends on what the behavior is. I used to have a habit of cutting myself when things in my life got out of control. If a relationship became strained, I would cut thinking that if I just punished myself, I would become a better person and things would be ok. This came from being told that discipline is the only way to fix a person. People who cut usually start for one reason but use others as life goes on. I got to the point where I would cut my arms and shoulders because I thought that the cuts would somehow clean the bad things from my life, as if I were offering blood for a clean slate in life. People will turn to self-destruction if they feel they can't control their own lives which is why it's so popular in teens. Some will do it for attention. Some will do it because they are genuinely frustrated and feel that talking to somebody else would just put a burden on the other person. People who get into these habits need someone to talk to. Not someone to talk at them. They want someone who can understand the pain they feel, and who might be able to help. They need a healthier outlet. If one of your friends is engaging in this kind of behavior it might be wise to step in. Things like this can spiral easily out of control. Just a push in the right direction is helpful.

Answer 3

people who engage in self-destructive behaviors usually have some kind of hurt inside. Self destructive behavior is a way of self medicating. People who cut often do it as a way to feel, they feel so much pain inside and dont know where it stems from so they cut, to have that mental state of saying my pain is coming from this cut, or people who have blocked out emotions, cut to feel alive (to feel anything at all).

Answer 4

I have a psych degree...as you might as well. Can't say I have ever met a single person who hasn't engaged in self destructive behavior.....it seems to be a way of life these days. In one form or another.

Answer 5

Ancient Europeans wrote about Ages of Man.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ages_of_Man

There are also many other references to various
types of world ages or Ages of Man in Hopi
(worlds), Mayan (suns) and other cultures of
antiquity. Giorgio de Santillana, the former
professsor of the history of science, mentions
approximately thirty ancient cultures that
believed in the concept of a series of ages and
the rise and fall of history, with alternating
Dark and Golden Ages.

More details of these Ages are available in the
Yuga concept of the Hindus. The present age
is known as Kali Yuga (age of darkness).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuga

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satya_Yuga

http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/iml/iml11.htm

http://www.crystallotus.com/Lemuria/04bbTheAges.htm

http://homepage.mac.com/cparada/GML/AgesOfWorld.html

Some persons are bound to have self-destructive behaviors
during the Iron Age. The darkness of this causes shadow
on the collective psyche. Only a few who can think through
darkness can escape. Others have to suffer one way or
the other.

Answer 6

confident while i became into youthful and self-punished myself with an ingesting disease. Now i believe i'd call what I do with working self-unfavourable bc I push myself previous my bodies minimize bc I"m addicted to it.

Answer 7

depressiion, lack of stabilty, self confidence none, and some r just followers wanting to be noticed

Answer 8

May be because they are cowards and they are depressed of their lives. And may be they hate themselves.

Answer 9

sometimes we're our own worse enemy - it's called self-sabotage or fear of success.

Answer 10

maybe they hate themselves inside. awww.