Self-Mutilation as form of body modification/meditation.

Is self-mutilation a form of body modification? And can or should it be considered a healthy, somewhat meditating, form of retaining more dangerous outlets of negative mental states from manifesting?

Personally I find the same calming I get from being pierced or tattooed in self-mutilation (Yes I seldom cut as well as burn and other forms of self inflicted damage). As well as I have long pondered and even taken part in using scars as artwork on my body. And while I detest violence of any form in any situation outside of a dire need of survival, I do believe that some of the "issues" I have in which I refuse mainstream treatments would likely escalate into full fledged suicide or outward violent acts (as has happened in my past) if it where not for physical "releases" (be it tattoos, cigarette burns or anything in-between).

I personally would not consider all tattoos and/or piercings to be self-mutilation. I think for it to be self-mutilation would depend heavily on the intent, manner, and method.

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Originally Posted by BienvenuJDC

I personally would not consider all tattoos and/or piercings to be self-mutilation. I think for it to be self-mutilation would depend heavily on the intent, manner, and method.

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Well the topic isn't really about tattoos, it's about stereotypical self-mutilation. Like cutting.

Self-mutilation is absurd. Excluding serious mental issues, there can be no justification for cutting/burning/scaring/chopping off a finger at all. The mere thought of it is very repulsive to me, especially as it has just taken three weeks to get rid of a serious infection I got from a small cut while shaving, not fun. So no, it's not healthy or meditative in any way.

Call it what you want, it is just masochism. You get pleasure from hurting yourself, thats fine and dandy. It's not a lifestyle choice, you are born with it, some people are born sadistic and masochistic and enjoy all the leather and chains with the sex.

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Originally Posted by Alexander III

Call it what you want, it is just masochism. You get pleasure from hurting yourself, thats fine and dandy. It's not a lifestyle choice, you are born with it, some people are born sadistic and masochistic and enjoy all the leather and chains with the sex.

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The only time I was wearing leather during sexual congress was when I forgot to take my wristwatch off.

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Originally Posted by Alexander III

Call it what you want, it is just masochism. You get pleasure from hurting yourself, thats fine and dandy. It's not a lifestyle choice, you are born with it, some people are born sadistic and masochistic and enjoy all the leather and chains with the sex.

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Except self-mutilation isn't just about hurting yourself, but damaging yourself.

Self-mutilation is addictive and releases endorphins each time you do it. It becomes a coping mechanism to deal with pressures, stresses, pent up feelings rather that dealing with them in a more conventional sense and this is particularly worrisome for younger people who may not have even developed the skills to deal with them and find that self-harm among alot of their friends is the norm. There are alternative self-harm practices which you can inflict upon yourself without incurring serious damage or lifelong scars.

Having had a daughter who cut herself to shreds in her teens, I see nothing healthy about it.

Whichever way, I think most "research", medical experts, and even alternative thinks would consider self-mutilation an unhealthy way to cope with anxiety. When you think about this in practical terms, there can be general health reasons and social reasons that would make one consider this type of behavior unhealthy. But then again, if the behavior doesn't have an adverse affect on one's life...

But having read what Delta wrote, makes much more sense than what I posted. It just makes more sense in terms of dealing with life in a productive way.

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Originally Posted by Calidore

Except self-mutilation isn't just about hurting yourself, but damaging yourself.

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What, extinguishing a cigarrete on your forearm, cutting yourself a bit - thats not serious damage, that is just having fun with ones masochistic pleasure tendencies.

I have know a couple guys who do this stuff, they are harmless people, what they do is mostly harmless, and it gives them pleasure, so I don't see much wrong with it.

People who really want to damage themselves have problems - people who use little knives to cut themselves or burn themselves a bit, don't have real problems, they just do it because it gives them some pleasure, maybe because they think it is a big act of rebellion and they get off on tat, or maybe the action itslef gives them pleasure.

Self-mutilation is more extreem, like a man chopping off his dick.

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What, extinguishing a cigarrete on your forearm, cutting yourself a bit - thats not serious damage, that is just having fun with ones masochistic pleasure tendencies.

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Having fun by "cutting yourself a bit" have people gone completely insane or is it just me?

Pain can cause adrenaline, and even endorphins to release in the brain in order to counter it. It is biologically natural.

When a cat is playing with a mouse, it is actually a 'merciful' act. The mouse is so filled with adrenaline and endorphins, its death is painless.

Humans mutilating, and/or inflicting pain upon themselves in order to cope with stress (I use the word 'stress' rather flexibly), is not biologically natural, and in a more psychological sense, I think it is harmful.

Tattoos and body modifications on their own are artistic and even poetic.

But, inflicting pain upon oneself is a temporary relief for individuals at best and, I think at least, an indicator of a deep-seated issue that needs a healthier, more long term resolution.

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Originally Posted by Neely

Having fun by "cutting yourself a bit" have people gone completely insane or is it just me?

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No it's not you, it's people have gone completely insane. They start off in a small way and finish up doing this.

http://youtu.be/-SefD84fbEE

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Originally Posted by Emil Miller

No it's not you, it's people have gone completely insane. They start off in a small way and finish up doing this.

http://youtu.be/-SefD84fbEE

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:lol: That's a big saw.

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Originally Posted by Alexander III

People who really want to damage themselves have problems - people who use little knives to cut themselves or burn themselves a bit, don't have real problems, they just do it because it gives them some pleasure, maybe because they think it is a big act of rebellion and they get off on tat, or maybe the action itslef gives them pleasure.

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Tattoos give me sexual satisfaction, cutting doesn't but I also have a very high tolerance for pain and it doesn't actually hurt. Burning doesn't hurt either it feels good, but it's not sexual, well sometimes like with hot wax but that's different.

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Originally Posted by Revolte

Tattoos give me
Burning doesn't hurt either it feels good, but it's not sexual, well sometimes like with hot wax but that's different.

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You might consider one of these:


http://youtu.be/U1TmeBd9338

That wasn't what was originally posted. I think people were trying to have a sense of humor. Taking things too seriously.

So someone gets off on masochism. It doesn't hurt you, does it? So, what's it matter? I couldn't care less what others do.

These threads are getting so predictable. There're always the same people being rightoues and judgmental. It must be tiring.

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Originally Posted by Mutatis-Mutandi

So someone gets off on masochism. It doesn't hurt you, does it? So, what's it matter? I couldn't care less what others do.

These threads are getting so predictable. There're always the same people being rightoues and judgmental. It must be tiring.

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I agree. It is tiring and ridiculous. It is always the same thing, somebody makes some ridiculous statement like "having fun by burning yourself" and then somebody points out the complete nonsense of it and is accused of being an intolerant raving Neo-Conservative. Strange. Can't wait for the thread on "Pedophilia, it's Just a Big Laugh" - should be good.

FWIW, the OP was specifically asking for opinions, not just making a statement.

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Originally Posted by Neely

I agree. It is tiring and ridiculous. It is always the same thing, somebody makes some ridiculous statement like "having fun by burning yourself" and then somebody points out the complete nonsense of it and is accused of being an intolerant raving Neo-Conservative. Strange. Can't wait for the thread on "Pedophilia, it's Just a Big Laugh" - should be good.

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You're are being irrational here Neely. After all, if paedophiles rape children other than your own, why should you care what other people do, it doesn't hurt you does it? You shouldn't care less what others do.

I know I shouldn't take the p**s, because it's all too easy, but it's difficult to resist. :lol:

I'm in the Neo-Con camp on this one :)
In response to the OP: if you detest violence, why should you be worried about violent acts manifesting themselves? I believe self harming/mutilation to be a totally aberrant activity. It is also a totally counter productive activity/stress outlet as you need your body to be functioning properly (am i not stating the complete bleedin obvious here!) re the general day to day stuff vis a vis survival and other quite important stuff I would have thought, no?

I read about healthy people having healthy limbs amputated for no other reason than having the desire to be an amputee. It's called Apotemnophilia and there is apparently some pathological excuse for this desire, but there's just no way that stuff should happen. How surgeons can be allowed to perform these operations is just beyond me, really. It just staggers me, honestly, how people can do this to themselves.

I never understood cutting. I was an angsty depressive adolescent and I never once felt the urge to cut. Maybe its the endorphin release? Or a cry for help perhaps?

A healthy balanced teen doesn't slice her arms, breasts and inner thighs with a razor blade over and over again.

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Originally Posted by Emil Miller

You're are being irrational here Neely. After all, if paedophiles rape children other than your own, why should you care what other people do, it doesn't hurt you does it? You shouldn't care less what others do.

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Originally Posted by Neely

I agree. It is tiring and ridiculous. It is always the same thing, somebody makes some ridiculous statement like "having fun by burning yourself" and then somebody points out the complete nonsense of it and is accused of being an intolerant raving Neo-Conservative. Strange. Can't wait for the thread on "Pedophilia, it's Just a Big Laugh" - should be good.

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http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FOIrYyQawG...0/StrawMan.jpg

If it provides some sort of release to those experiencing severe psychological stress then I don't see a problem with it. Better that than releasing it all in a single potentially fatal burst.

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Originally Posted by Darcy88

If it provides some sort of release to those experiencing severe psychological stress then I don't see a problem with it. Better that than releasing it all in a single potentially fatal burst.

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Assuming that self-harm is a managment tool to avoid a fatal burst from occurring, then I would at least imagine it would be taken in prescribed doses, like a medication for example. On that premise I believe to take too much of any medication could result in a fatality.

My daughter increased the intensity of her practice over her body and the kind of wounds she inflicted because what she started out doing wasn't enough to give her the release she was looking for. In other words, she was overdosing on her 'medication'. Not fatal and according to your statement, not a problem, despite the increased disfigurement and injuries to her body.

To shrug my shoulders and say 'Well at least she isn't going to do something irresponsible as long as she continues to carve her body up with a razor blade' means I should be admitted to a psyh unit!

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Originally Posted by Delta40

Assuming that self-harm is a managment tool to avoid a fatal burst from occurring, then I would at least imagine it would be taken in prescribed doses, like a medication for example. On that premise I believe to take too much of any medication could result in a fatality.

My daughter increased the intensity of her practice over her body and the kind of wounds she inflicted because what she started out doing wasn't enough to give her the release she was looking for. In other words, she was overdosing on her 'medication'. Not fatal and according to your statement, not a problem, despite the increased disfigurement and injuries to her body.

To shrug my shoulders and say 'Well at least she isn't going to do something irresponsible as long as she continues to carve her body up with a razor blade' means I should be admitted to a psyh unit!

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All the people I've met who cut themselves never inflicted any significant harm. I'm sure there are some extreme cases where the habit goes too far, but in most instances it isn't much of a problem. Its the issues that lead to it which should be of concern. It was pretty obvious I was not referring to such extreme cases in my original post.

That's a fair reply Darcy so would the cutting you see other people inflict upon themselves where no significant harm be ok if it is one of your children?

(I must question the definition of significant harm since my daughter, apart from being covered in old scars, isn't really harmed is she?)

Just to clarify my earlier assertions: I do not think it's good or healthy for a person to use self-mutilation as a coping mechanism for depression. Other than the obvious possible results of real harm (even if it's a staff infection from a small cut) it just doesn't seem like it's in any way healthy. It's just a gut feeling.

What I don't have a problem with is masochism used to derive pleasure rather than to alleviate emotional pain. I'm talking about the guys who go to dominatrixes to get whipped and have hot wax poured on them. If that's what they get off on, more power to 'em. I don't see any harm in that.

As far as people wanting to amputate themselves, there something wrong there . . . but whether or not someone should be able to do it is a more complicated matter--probably moreso than any of us are intelligent enough to understand.

What about this guy:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R51-i3_O-R...700515549.jpeg

Should that be allowed?

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Originally Posted by Delta40

That's a fair reply Darcy so would the cutting you see other people inflict upon themselves where no significant harm be ok if it is one of your children?

(I must question the definition of significant harm since my daughter, apart from being covered in old scars, isn't really harmed is she?)

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I guess it was stupid to say it wasn't a problem since its an obvious sign that there in fact is a problem. I've just known a number of people who suffered from depression and cut themselves but were otherwise normal, and so I don't class cutting along with drug abuse, purging, suicidal attempts, violence on others, dropping out of school, unsafe sex, or the plethora of other things that in themselves amount to serious and significant problems. Your daughter is an extreme case and can't stand as an example of all those who cut themselves. Her case shows me that cutting is not as light a matter as I thought and that it can in some instances be in and of itself a serious problem, but in a lot of cases its a surface symptom of a deep underlying issue, and I think that issue and not the cutting itself should be of most pressing concern.

It's funny. Depression is a diagnosed mental health condition and I would expect that among young people cutting along with drug abuse, purging, suicidal attempts, violence on others, dropping out of school, unsafe sex, or the plethora of other things to be symptoms of depression or another condition.

I know kids that suicided in their teens. It's worth noting that their paths all involved self harm and so I guess my final point on this thread is that no level of self harm can be considered insignificant.

Thanks for listening to the subjective view of a Mother.

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Originally Posted by Mutatis-Mutandi

There're always the same people being rightoues and judgmental.

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I don't think that Neely is self-righteous or judgemental, I think he's just sheltered. How could you not have come to terms with the existance of masochism? No one cares anymore if people get sexual gratification through cutting themselves or their willing partners, as long as they aren't running around cutting other people without permission.

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Originally Posted by Darcy88

I never understood cutting. I was an angsty depressive adolescent and I never once felt the urge to cut. Maybe its the endorphin release? Or a cry for help perhaps?

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I never got the depression aspect of it either. I was a depressed kid too, and it would never even have occured to me that "hey, maybe if I make a hole in myself I'll feel better."

^I guess I'll throw my hat in there as well. I suffered from depression in high school, and not once did I want to inflict pain onto myself. I guess my case is a little different . . . it's not like I had to inflict any injury upon myself. Still, I've never taken pleasure from pain, whether I've been depressed or not. Sometimes I find a *little* pain pleasurable, such as when I have an itch, but scratching it hurts as well as feels good. Generally speaking, though, pain is something I take every possible avenue not to experience.

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Originally Posted by Neely

I agree. It is tiring and ridiculous. It is always the same thing, somebody makes some ridiculous statement like "having fun by burning yourself" and then somebody points out the complete nonsense of it and is accused of being an intolerant raving Neo-Conservative. Strange. Can't wait for the thread on "Pedophilia, it's Just a Big Laugh" - should be good.

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You have fun by going to a wooden building in your town, where all the men go, and all of you drink pints of poison, sometimes so much poison that you feel sick and can't controll yourself. The morning after your body bluntly lets you know don't do this again. But the next weekend you are sill down in that wooden building spending money on poison and drinking it and being sick....

The accusation is not intolerance, it is hypocrisy.

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Originally Posted by Mutatis-Mutandi

Should that be allowed?

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What happened to the whole American, " this is a free country" spirit. Is that all just empty rethoric, or do you actual believe what you say?

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Originally Posted by Alexander III

You have fun by going to a wooden building in your town, where all the men go, and all of you drink pints of poison, sometimes so much poison that you feel sick and can't controll yourself. The morning after your body bluntly lets you know don't do this again. But the next weekend you are sill down in that wooden building spending money on poison and drinking it and being sick....

The accusation is not intolerance, it is hypocrisy.

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Yes because having a few quiet pints is obviously the same thing as slashing yourself with a razor blade or putting knives through your nose! What a hypocrite I am!

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Originally Posted by Mutatis-Mutandi

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FOIrYyQawG...0/StrawMan.jpg

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:lol:

That guy needs a haircut.

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Originally Posted by Alexander III

You have fun by going to a wooden building in your town, where all the men go, and all of you drink pints of poison, sometimes so much poison that you feel sick and can't controll yourself. The morning after your body bluntly lets you know don't do this again. But the next weekend you are sill down in that wooden building spending money on poison and drinking it and being sick....

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Have you been drinking poteen in your garden shed again Neely?