Is self-injury ever treated like an addiction?!


Question: Is self-injury ever treated like an addiction!?
As a self-injurer, I know my triggers, but I sometimes get the urge to harm myself (specifically cut) for what seems like no reason at all!. At the very least, I can say without reservation that I have had the urge without any discernable triggers!.
I've often wondered if it can or should be treated like an addiction rather than a symptom of my depression/borderline personality, as it first was!. Am I way out in left field with this idea!?Www@Answer-Health@Com


Answers:
I'm a recovering addict!. I was taught that my addiction was from me trying to self medicate to feel better!. That there was some other underlying reason that I did drugs!. Perhaps somebody has a tough childhood or that they have a chemical imbalance!. The drug itself is habit forming besides the different feeling that it gives!.

From what I hear cutting and self harm is another way to release, to feel better or different!. It is also habit forming just like drugs!.

What I'm saying is that a lot of people do drugs because of a mental condition and the drugs become an addiction in it self!. So yes I do think that self harming is an addiction and should be treated like one!.

I don't know how they cure people from cutting but I think it would be the same as drugs!. Like you said triggers and that you have the urge without any reason!. Again just like drugs!. In the end we all need self control!. I just think the reason to start were the same!.

Take care and don't give up!

EDIT: Let me add that most people try drugs because of peer pressure, curiosity or to self medicate!. They continue because of addiction!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

I think you're absolutely right, but I don't know if a 12-step program would help!. I suppose it could though!. I used to live with young girls that were addicted to tattoos and piercings!. They started running out of things to pierce and one girl had a tattoo right above her pubic area!. She designed it herself and she went around showing it to everybody and it was really ugly!. And I thought of how horrible it would look when she was 75!. She also had the back of her neck pierced, so she had like 2 bolts an inch apart on the back of her neck!. It looked like Frankenstein!.

Anyway I think there is a cognitive behavioral approach to deal with cutting and working with a counselor would be a good idea!. It has to do with consciously putting more and more time in between actually doing it!. I knew someone that was like a cutter, but she would bang her head against a wall!. She was also a recovering alcoholic and she said the pain worked just like a drink!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

No!.

I used to cut myself as well!. I was in a period where my live was ruining me mentally, which was fostering my desire to physically injure myself!.

I cut for a very long time!. And, never once sought help!.

I think it can be treated as an addiction and it can be overcome!. I used to look forward to it at the end of the day, even if nothing went wrong that day!.

I was not well!. And, I am glad to have surpassed that stage in my life!. Up until probably a year ago I was doing it!.

Please get help!. I wish I would have!. It would've made me a better person!.

-Sincerest empathy,
ShannonWww@Answer-Health@Com

no way!.
self harm can definitely become an addiction for those who find they have no other coping mechanism!.
it was for me!. i started at 13 and i think im beginning to stop now at 16, or at least have a break from it!. i found it was the only thing that helped!.

maybe it should be treated as an addiction, but no counsellors have ever helped me with it!. they dont think its important!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

I guess it would only make sense to treat it like an addiction, since you can get addicted to it!. i'm a self injurer too and i know what your talking about!.!.!.sometimes just wanting to cut out of the blue!.

but what i've been told is that self injury is just a symptom or something else like depression!. theres a reason for it!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

i don't know if anyone has tried that!. But it is worth an experiment to compare it as a treatment!. i don't think it is left field at all!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

not at all
I also sometimes cut just for no reason at all, when I used to only when I was extremely emotional
self-injury is usually treated like in addictionWww@Answer-Health@Com

look up dialectical behavoiral therapy, thats most likely one of the most effective treatments for self harmWww@Answer-Health@Com

i think that it could be treated like an addiction because you are more or less addicted to hurting yourself!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

It is an addiction, at least my counselor says!.!. and I think she knows about this stuff!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

i think of that too!.!.!.being that i do that tooWww@Answer-Health@Com





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