RYL Forums - View Single Post - self harm now a mental disorder in it's own right?

The War Doctor · 10-02-2010, 09:02 PM

I don't like the idea of self-harm being classed as a stand-alone illness. And I certainly don't agree with it being considered solely a Childhood/Adolescence thing. True, most people do stop as they get older, but isn't that usually due to recovery from (or treatment of) the underlying illness of which the self-harm is a symptom? Implying that it's a phase you grow out of invalidates and trivialises it, in my opinion.

As for the idea that since it often comes with a variety of other mental illnesses it must be something else entirely, I don't agree with that either. Maybe it's just me, but my self-harm is very closely linked to my depression (non-existent self worth and belief that I deserve it) and eating disorder (hatred of my body and an intense desire to destroy it).

Then again, self-harm is very addictive, and there have been times when I've cut "because it's been a while since I last did it and it feels weird" so maybe that's a factor.

10-02-2010, 09:02 PM	#14
The War Doctor Man ist, was man isst Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Gallifrey I am currently:	I don't like the idea of self-harm being classed as a stand-alone illness. And I certainly don't agree with it being considered solely a Childhood/Adolescence thing. True, most people do stop as they get older, but isn't that usually due to recovery from (or treatment of) the underlying illness of which the self-harm is a symptom? Implying that it's a phase you grow out of invalidates and trivialises it, in my opinion. As for the idea that since it often comes with a variety of other mental illnesses it must be something else entirely, I don't agree with that either. Maybe it's just me, but my self-harm is very closely linked to my depression (non-existent self worth and belief that I deserve it) and eating disorder (hatred of my body and an intense desire to destroy it). Then again, self-harm is very addictive, and there have been times when I've cut "because it's been a while since I last did it and it feels weird" so maybe that's a factor.