Why Do People Self Injure?

...This may be the aspect of self-harm that is most puzzling to those who do not do it. Why would anyone choose to inflict physical damage on him or herself? There is evidence that self-injurers, when faced with strong emotion or overwhelming situations, choose to harm themselves because it brings them a rapid release from tension and anxiety. These situations cause an increase in physiological arousal, and self-injury quickly drops that level of arousal close to baseline. The self-injurer may feel release,but even if s/he feels guilty or angry afterward, it won't be an oppressive, pushing, demanding tension-filled feeling like it was before.  Click anywhere in this sentence to continue reading...

Via: Deb Martinson