Self-injury as a stress-reliever?

[fairfax]

hello there....

okay...i have this friend of mine that when she's sad, feeling down, heartbroken and all, she would cut herself edited to removed graphic content
it is how she lets out all her stress and anger.... and when she's talking about it to us, she seems glad about it. there are many little scars [edited]

is there a problem with her?

 

[braveheart]

Re: Self-Injury as a stress-reliever?

Hi fairfax, I moved this to the self injury forum. I've also edited out some of the more graphic detail, so as to avoid triggering others.
You originally posted in the Self Esteem and Self Concept forum, and therefore are wondering if there is a deep problem in the way your friend sees herself, for her to be using cutting to help her cope with stress and anger.
Perhaps she has never learnt that it's ok to feel angry, and maybe she's never had a healthy role model for coping with stress. It's possible that she's somehow learnt that anger and anxiety shouldn't be spoken about. And it's like now she's found a way of expressing herself, albeit in a way that harms her and leaves scars.

Self harm can indeed be a coping mechanism, but an unhealthy one.