Cutting for attention is not valid:

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⚠️ Disclaimer:
I am only pro-self-harm in regard to myself and my close SH circle. I don’t promote it to others, and I do not believe it should ever be glorified or used as a casual aesthetic.
(ง'̀-'́)ง
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୧‿̩͙ ˖︵ ꕀ ♱ ꕀ ︵˖ ‿̩͙୨
✘ _{Cutting for attention is never acceptable.
Using self-harm as a way to seek attention diminishes the seriousness of those who turn to it as a legitimate coping mechanism for deep emotional distress.
It’s not a game. It’s not a trend. It’s pain.
When people use SH to get sympathy, pity, or social clout, it reinforces damaging stereotypes that everyone who self-harms is just “doing it for show.” That makes it harder for people to be taken seriously when they’re actually in crisis.}
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୧‿̩͙ ˖︵ ꕀ ♱ ꕀ ︵˖ ‿̩͙୨
If you're cutting but intentionally showing fresh wounds to others, especially without warning or context, know that this can:༻ Trigger others who are vulnerable,
༻ Cause deep distress to those who care about you,
༻ Push away potential support rather than invite it.
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If you're struggling and want connection, there are ways to reach out that don’t endanger your body or distort what self-harm means for the rest of us. Please, take this seriously
··············································································································Valid Reasons for Self-Harm:✧ 1. Physical Pain as Grounding
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Some people use SH to interrupt emotional numbness or overwhelming dissociation.
The sharp, raw sensation brings them back into their body — reminding them that they are here, that they exist, and that something is still real in a world that otherwise feels completely disconnected.
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✧ 2. Emotional Pressure Release
⋆⋆≡≡ ≡≡⋆⋆
Self-harm can act as a valve when emotions reach a boiling point. It’s not about spectacle — it’s about release. The same way some people scream into pillows or punch walls, others cut.
It’s not about control over others — it’s about regaining control over themselves.
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✧ 3. Punishment
▁⋆✶⋆▁ ▁⋆✶⋆▁
Many who self-harm aren’t trying to get love or pity — they’re trying to punish themselves. For mistakes, for how they look, for who they are, or for things that weren’t even their fault. This isn’t something done to manipulate others. It’s private, dark, and full of internal pain.
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✧ 4. Emotional Overload Release
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Some people use SH as a way to release intense emotional pressure that builds up over time.
When internal chaos becomes unbearable, pain acts like a valve — offering temporary relief, a sense of exhale, and a moment of silence inside the noise.
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✧ 5. Meltdown Management
✩═⋆⋆⋆═✩ ✩═⋆⋆⋆═✩
When someone experiences overstimulation or mental overload, SH can act as a reset button.
The physical act can interrupt spirals, halt obsessive thoughts, or bring down emotional intensity during breakdowns or panic.
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✧ 6. Numbness Disruption
◤✪ ✪◥◤✪ ✪◥
For those who feel emotionally numb or dissociated, SH can provide proof that they are still capable of feeling something.
Even if it’s pain, it reminds them that their body exists — that they haven’t disappeared completely.
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✧ 7. Routine and Ritual
◄❖✦ ✦❖►
SH becomes a ritual for some — a repeated act that offers familiarity in a world of unpredictability.
It gives structure to their day or night, acting like a ceremony where control, relief, and emotional processing happen in private.
Scarification and bloodletting have long histories in many cultures and religions — used for purification, initiation, mourning, or spiritual connection. For some, SH echoes those same ceremonial instincts, even if done in solitude or silence.
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✧ 8. Knife Play as Intimacy and Control
(¯`•.¸❀✿.｡.:* *.:｡✿❀¸.•´¯)
For some, consensual knife play is a form of sexual or sensual expression that blends vulnerability, adrenaline, and trust.
It allows the individual to experience the edge of danger in a safe, controlled environment — where they call the shots and the blade becomes an extension of power, surrender, or both.
The sharpness, the precision, the closeness — it mirrors emotional intimacy while satisfying a craving for sensation.
It can also blur the line between pain and pleasure, creating a space where body and mind are fully present, engaged, and in control of a narrative that once felt chaotic or stolen.
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If you read through this and still think it's okay to cut yourself for attention, do both of us a favor and hit that block button. I'm not interested in interacting with someone who demonstrates immaturity in that regard!
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