Why do people think self harmers are suicidal?

Question

They are not and along with that they are not atttention seekers. Fair enough some people self harm once or twice and get attention for it on purpose but other people do it as a way of release it has nothing to do with wanting to die in most cases and the fact that alot of people assume self harmers or self mulilation is a form of attention seeking this scares people into seeking help when they need it most!

Answer 1

I used to self injure quite frequently (and still do occassionally). I always hid it from people, until years after I'd stopped doing it regularly.

But I don't entirely agree.

First of all, I WAS suicidal. My self--injury was not an attempt on suicide, but it WAS an attempt to stop me from building up enough misery to actually do the deed. So, cutters can be and often are suicidal, but the act itself is not an attempt at suicide. That's an important distinction.

Second, even if someone self-injures for attention, they are no less mentally ill. A person who is mentally healthy would not be able to injure themselves. Their natural survival instincts would drive them away from it. People who self injure for attention ARE mentally ill, but often in a different way than people who don't.

People who don't draw attention to their self-injury may be depressed, bipolar, or anxious. But people who do it for attention often suffer from a different kind of illness, like Borderline Personality.

Anyone who injures themselves for any reason needs help, point blank. No one's way of doing it is more "real" than anyone else's. If you find any sort of pleasure in cutting yourself open, you need help.

Answer 2

well to a non-cutter it is quite an easy leap to imagine for someone to go from cutting themselves slightly to properly cutting their wrists and bleeding to death, the only difference is the pressure used. so you can see where the idea comes from.

Answer 3

First of all, many people do not understand those who have self-harmed or still continue to do so. I am one in recovery and will be cut free for two years in November. Many people don't realize that those who do cut or self-injure in other ways are not all suicidal. While I do admit that there are those who are and then there are ones who do it for attention. But, they are no less of a self-injurer than those who hide it.

Self-injury is a coping mechanism to deal with intense amounts of emotional stress that just builds over a period of time. For example, mine stemmed from my family trauma at home that was some huge secret for almost three years. Self-injurers live in their own personal h**l of an endless cycle of pain, giving in to our emotions and cutting, and then the intense guilt that follows when we cover the scars. People often assume that because we draw blood that all of us are suicidal, which simply isn't true. Many, like myself, use(d) it as a release to feel something besides the emotional pain you feel day in and day out. Those who do not know are afraid to understand and that's why they make the assumptions they do. That's why I try to reach out to make people understand self-injury and those who self-injure.  

Answer 4

Most mental health professionals, except the inexperienced ones, will know that self harmers are not necessarily suicidal. Unless someone is self-harming on the trunk or genital area it usually isn't a suicidal gesture.

However, to the average joe, you have to admit that it isn't a normal thing to want to hurt yourself. It looks pretty scary and probably the natural conclusion for someone is to assume that they want to kill themselves.

Answer 5

I have Bipolar & PTSD. I have harmed myself on a couple of occasions - not to kill myself (not that selfish) or for attention (no-one was there to pay attention and the only other person who initially knew how I got the injuries was my psychiatrist).

At the time I was so irrational and angry and "hurting unbearably from the inside" that I felt I had to hurt myself on the outside cos at least I could see the cause of the pain and understand why I felt the pain (all be it a different kind of pain)..It could be tended to and fixed and the pain on the inside and in my heart & head forgotten for a while.

Rather than show it - I hid my self inflicted injuries to avoid people thinking that I was a freak or suicidal. That wasn't me. I was just looking for a way to make my pain to be fixed. I don't think I will ever understand the need to self harm, I am working on it never happening again though (it's been 4 months). If I can't comprehend why I do this to myself - how can I expect anyone else to understand??? Especially those we think are "normal".

Answer 6

As a counselor, I have experience in working with self-harmers.  Some people, not having any experience with issues like these, may lump the behaviors all into one pile without really trying to understand what is going on or dealing with it.  It may be too scary for some to take a good, long look at.  You are right, though, they are not all suicidal or attention seekers.  Each person has to be dealt with based on what is going on with them.

Answer 7

They are harming them self's it is a sign of being depressed taking your emotions out on your self when you are having a S****y day.

most people who self harm are not suicidal but are very depressed. and i suppose people just assume. as self harming can lead to serious problems. such as suicide.  

Answer 8

some self harmers are suicidal.

some self harmers are attention seeking.

some people do it for a release.

most of the time - its a cry for help. people think they are suicidal because self harming is like suicide in a way. because commiting suicide is harming yourself to the point where you are dead and self harming is harming yourself to the point of when your, numb.

Answer 9

i don't know, but it's very true. I used to cut ALOT, nevr wanting to die, but just a way to calm myself down, Anyways, so yeah i don't get it either.