One word for self harm
 

This is kind of a vague question, but I'm sort of curious.
If you had to call self harm something in one word, what would you call it?
So far I'm at "conditional" "destructive" and "binding". thoughts?

It is hard to narrow it down. Maybe 'addictive'.

'relief' 'escape' 'addictive' 'destroying'

Oh and 'consuming'?

For me right now?

'Ineffective'.

It's a blessing and a curse, I suppose.

I'd call it 'release.'

I dissociate quite a bit when I self harm, so I don't remember much if any of it, so I often think of it as: 'magic' (I think referring to it in this way reduces the impact and severity of it for me), 'Consuming' (as said above), 'crippling', 'petrifying'

hell.

For me it would be "control" "trap" "destructive" "release" "survival" "consuming/addictive."

Overbearing

Obsession, Secret, Shameful...This can really change though depending on my mood though...

Confusion, conflict, intoxicating, scary...
I sometimes think of self harm like an abusive partner: you know it's bad for you but you can't stop.

The blessing and curse thing is completely true - so I'd say a curse, or soul-destroying to be all emotional about it. It really wouldn't be on my list of things to recommend so...

I think everyone can agree on this one... addictive/an addiction

Relief... survival... control

Burden.

i don't agree! haha sorry i'm probably the only one but i don't tihnk i'm addicted to self harm, and if the reasons for doing it were gone, the self harm would go. that's just me though

Also for me I think I'd say "desperation", "scarring" and "dangerous".

'ugly'

Hungry.

Trouble

its not a word is a phrase but
'screaming out for help'
or
'communicating feelings'
or
'frightening'

need.

maladaptive?

I have to separate it into a positive and negative word/phrase:

Positive: life-affirming (in the sense that it affirms the fact that I am alive, not in the sense that it affirms life is good)
Negative: destructive

Release,
Addiction,
Ok not a word this one: Visible Pain,

I'd also disagree; maybe it is addictive for some - or even most - people, but is isn't necessarily so. I've never felt addicted to self-harm, despite it being part of my life (on and off) for more than 20 years.

For me, the words 'savage' and 'violent' come to mind.

Hell was my first thought.

But also: release, comfort, strength

oblivion.

necessary

Quiet.

ceeb.

Disclaimer: not trolling, that's my main thought about it now, like 'yup, totally want to, but ceeb for the consequences'

Desperation.

Free.

Jenna - what is ceeb?

I always find myself using the word "manifestation"


manifestation [ˌmænɪfɛˈsteɪʃən]
n
1. the act of demonstrating; display a manifestation of solidarity
2. the state of being manifested
3. an indication or sign
4. a public demonstration of feeling

I doubt many people SI so they can SHOW people how they feel, as I do, but "Manifestation" is the word I would use

Addictive but life destroying

Release

Addictive.

Isolating.

Tempting, so damn tempting, fighting to stay free

"Hell." - that's what comes to my mind immediately.
But, there's so many one word answers depending on the individual.
For some, it can be "relief", "heaven", for others it can be "hell", "destructive", "horrid", "horrendous", etc etc.

I suppose there are both positive one word answers and negative one word answers. I mean, there's obviously a reason to continue going back to it, so I'm sure most if not all self harmers have at least one positive word for it.

But, for me, I think yeah it can be "relieving", but I have more negative one word answers than positives for sure.

"Hell", "dangerous", "destructive", "obsessional", "maladaptive", "frightening", "desperate", "upsetting", "distressful", "secretive", compulsive", "damaging", "worrying", "scary", "stressful", "evil", can go on and on and on with the negatives, whereas with the positives, for me personally, I guess... "relieving", "release", "control"(however, at the same time, uncontrollable, so maybe not even that), "helps", "quietens"(your mind, the thoughts, urges, voices, etc), I can't think of any more right now, but goes to show, way more negatives about self harm than positives, for me at least.