//IF YOU'RE NOT MUCH OF A READER, SKIP TO TYPES OF SELF-HARM FOR IMAGES//

BRIEF LIST OF TOPICS

1). What is self-harm?
2). Why do people self-harm? Psychological and biological reasons.
3). Common self-harm terminology in online communities.
4). Types of self-harm [GRAPHIC]
5). [META] Why do people watch self-harm content?

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1). What is self-harm?

Self-harm is the act of purposeful pain caused to oneself. People can engage in this behaviour consciously or unknowingly.
Many people do not realize their outlet for negative (or even positive) emotions is classified as self-harm. The example that comes to mind, is a tattoo artist I used to know, who would do tattoos on himself to feel the pain when upset.
From the outside, it doesn't seem like the typical self-harm method, but the psychological and biological reasoning is the exact same.
Self-injury is typically done without the intention to end one's life.
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2). Why do people self-harm? Psychological and biological reasons.

Generally, it's to cope with negative emotions, especially when you have no other (healthy) way to work through your issues.
Important thing to mention is, self-harm is very addictive. More on that later.

//Interactions between psychology and biology//

The quote "Self-harm changes emotional pain into physical pain" might seem cliché, but that's the reality.
When it comes to sensing physical and emotional pain, our brains use the same two areas: the anterior insula and the anterior cingulate cortex.

These are the areas in the brain that process pain, regardless of whether we stubbed our toe or found out our parents are dead.
Pain relievers also act on these two areas, regardless of whether someone is experiencing emotional or physical pain. A 2010 study in Psychological Science revealed that the pain relievers such as Tylenol or paracetamol (acetaminophen) helped to relieve the distress associated with social rejection and also decreased activity in the anterior insula and the anterior cingulate cortex.

People who self-harm, have learned that, while the pain peaks with self-injury, it then comes down the other side.
The physical pain lessens – as does the emotional pain.

//Addiction//

Self-harm is incredibly addictive in its nature.
Recent neurobiological work indicates that drug addiction is due in part to the positive reinforcement associated with increasing extracellular dopamine levels in the brain.
Similarly, self-harm is believed to stimulate dopamine production in the brain, and the feelings of relief this hormone helps produce can lead vulnerable people to become addicted to the process.

//Strictly psychological reasons//

a) Acting out on impulse when under high emotional distress, clouded judgement, feeling the need to act out on one's overwhelming emotions
b) The belief you deserve to be hurt, self-blame, generally an attitude developed due to trauma (C-PTSD, PTSD, Borderline personality disorder).
c) Self-hate, this one is most likely going to lead to suicidal ideation.
d) Feelings of emotional numbness (caused by depression, dysthymia, cyclothymia, bipolar type 2) which cause the person affected to desperately try find a way to feel something. This reason is strongly tied to the mechanism described in //Interactions between psychology and biology//
e) Feelings of grandiosity, beliefs of one's immortality and greatness caused by mania (bipolar, especially type 1).
f) Poor emotional regulation, emotional outburts (borderline, autism).
g) Distraction from negative feelings, stopping traumatic memories and dissociation.
h) Craving and gaining a distorted sense of control in your life.
i) Self-hard addiction, without any additional reasons.
j) Having something in life that one can always rely on.
k) Real or perceived guilt.
l) "Attention-seeking", believing you need to do something drastic for people to care about you or believe you're experiencing issues.
m) Having no healthy outlet for emotions.
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3). Common self-harm terminology in online communities.

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4). Types of self-harm.

|CUTTING|

Probably the most common form of self-harm. No need for an explanation.

IMAGES AND VIDEOS:

|REMOVING PARTS OF BODY|

Ripping off body fat, ripping off skin, removing parts of tissue.

IMAGES AND VIDEOS:

|PIERCING|

Stabbing oneself, pushing objects into your body.

IMAGES AND VIDEOS:

|BURNING|

No explanation needed.

IMAGES AND VIDEOS:

|CARVING OR SCARIFICATION|

Carving/homemade scarification is about cutting/burning/etc patterns onto your skin.
This is also a body modification procedure, but people depicted in the following photos are doing this with the intention to cause oneself pain.
Some people prefer this to normal cutting since it requires more focus (it's more calming, takes away attention from your issue) and leaves prettier, more innocuous scars.

IMAGES AND VIDEOS:

|DELIBERATE SELF-NEGLECT|

This can involve many behaviours, it's about neglecting your health (broken bones, illness, diet, wounds, etc)
The images I have unfortunately only portray two of these types.

IMAGES AND VIDEOS:

|NOT LETTING INJURIES HEAL|

IMAGES AND VIDEOS:

|BLOODLETTING|

IMAGES AND VIDEOS:

|OTHER:|

Hitting, medicine misuse, drug consumption, biting, bone-breaking, choking.
While I do have examples of hitting, I feel uncomfortable including it in this post since it's mostly autisic meltdowns lol
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5). Why do people watch self-harm?

The reason why I'm such a big advocate for keeping the self-harm category on this site is because I know for a fact many self-harmers watch this type of content to stop harming their own self.
Seeing someone else do what you associate with relief, dopamine, and help can to some extent let you feel the associated feelings.

It's all thanks to empathy and imagination. You either empathize with the person harming themselves, which your brain can turn to actual sensations on your body, or you imagine that person is you.
Neither of those are exactly a healthy coping mechanism but it's a hundred times better than actually, physically harming yourself.

Of course, that's not the only reason (although the most important). Some people just watch it out of curiosity, or for the same reason you watch regular gore.
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!Closing notes!

It's often difficult for people who don't self-harm to understand why anyone would. But knowing about this bit of neuroscience might help make self-harm a little less mysterious.
Shedding a bit of light on the subject was my intention here, hopefully this will create a bit more understanding.