attention seeking ??

[Silverstara]

So when I started cutting I was excited to have these scars on my skin... To kind off be different than all the rest of my friends.
I was bubbling inside waiting for one of my friends to see my wounds.
What the hell !?
Shouldn't I want to keep it a secret of something?
But I wanted them to know!
Does it mean I was attention seeking?

[Starla]

Maybe you were looking for attention, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. At least you are being honest with yourself. I can only reflect on when I started. I was 13 and in 8th grade (I'm 30 now). I wanted someone to find out because I was hurting so much. For some reason it made more sense in my naive 13 year old head to hurt myself than tell someone how I was feeling and what I was thinking. It was a cry for help. Perhaps your situation was similar? Did you want them to know because you wanted help for something you couldn't otherwise express?

[Bellatrix]

Attention seeking is always deemed a bad thing. It's a cruel insult.

But if you break it down, seeking attention for something isn't a bad thing. It's a good thing. Having someone take notice of something you're going through is important, and sometimes the only way you can do that is by seeking their attention.

Do you want your friends to know so they can help you stop? Or support you through the difficult times?

I have to remind you though, that words are enough. You don't have to self harm to express your feelings, you can find words.Sometimes they're hard to find because it's something so draining and scary. But writing things down and re-reading them can really help you sort things out in your mind. Maybe that's something you could try, then you could communicate this to your friends, either in written form or verbally. Also, words are also a more effective ways of communicating. They allow you to express multiple things - whereas cutting just says 'help me'. Your words will explain more about how you're feeling than cutting ever will.

Take care.

[Pi.R^2]

I think you may well be seeking attention but that is not a bad thing, as Jodie has said above. The fact that you are willing to go to the extreme of hurting yourself in order to get noticed is a sign that you are definitely in need of some attention. I myself started self harming in a similar manner and whilst I felt I should hide it, I did very much hope that someone might notice and help me.

What I would say is that self harm can escalate massively and cannot recommend more that you get out while you still can. Can you identify what sort of reaction you are hoping for from your friends? Are you hoping they will ask why and give you an opportunity to talk about how you are feeling? There are safer ways to get that reaction without getting embroiled in self-destruction. For example you could send one of them a text saying you're not feeling fabulous and wondered if they fancied going for a coffee and having a chat.

[Margo202]

I understand that feeling. I never cut for attention specifically (there were a million different reasons) but I did enjoy knowing that someone cared if they did see my cuts and get upset about it. I think sometimes we just need to know that someone notices are pain and cares. but I agree with Bellatrix, words are enough, and if you can talk to them instead of cutting, you will be so much better off and I'm sure they would be happy to be supportive :)

[Silverstara]

Thank you everybody... I think it was like Margo said that I liked that people actualy cared about me... And I agree that words and especially writting them down is so much more powerful.
Thank you guys so much for your time

[Katiee]

I wouldn't use the term 'attention seeking', but more of wanting to be found out so you can get the help you need and deserve. I think we all go through a time when we want somebody to notice things aren't alright. Please talk to somebody though. Take care.

[lord of luck]

I had this feeling about three months ago. Started cutting in a more noticable place than I had for the nearly four years I've been sh'ing, and it turns out that looking back I was in a worse place mentally then than ever before. I needed people to notice, and my anxiety wouldn't let me tell them, so the sh did instead. While it's not the best of methods, if you're feeling like you need to show people it most likely means that you DO, and that those feelings need to be validated by a professional who understands at least a bit behind your need for attention. Attention is often a stereotype going into self harming and one we all fight. But at times it IS for attention, and sometimes its really helpful to follow those feelings, because attention is not a bad thing.
Stay safe hun x
Brynn

[Silverstara]

Thank you :)