Addicted to pain: They say hurting themselves makes them feel better.

The Courier-Journal ^ | September 28, 2003 | KATYA CENGEL

[sarcasm]

Ashley doesn't remember what upset her that day or why she suddenly decided to rub a hair scrunchie back and forth across her wrist until it bled. All she remembers is how it felt.

"As soon as it began to hurt I started feeling better and calming down," she said.

[mysterio]

I know someone with this disorder. It is real and disturbing, and I believe it is a true addiction. The person managed to stop, but it is still a struggle. My heart goes out to people suffering from this, as well as their loved ones. It is awful to see one you love go through it.

[Sandy]

This is bizarre. My hunch is that these people crave the endorphins. They should try running.

[BlackVeil]

One can see the link with eating disorders, as well.

I wonder if, in some communities in the past, people suffering from this type of thing might have been seen as religious ascetics, rather than as ill or self-destructive. People who starved, lashed and even burnt themselves were sometimes defined as holy. Most of them probably were, but some may have been acting out this type of compulsion.

[Lockbar]

We all suffer from this. Haven't we all stubbed our toe on a chair leg at 5:00am and say to ourselves as we are hoping around in agony "Gee, this is sure going to feel better when it stops hurting!"

[not-an-ostrich]

Another Affective Spectrum Disorder. It's the brain chemicals, not abuse causing these disorders. Once the "physcologist" leave this to real doctors (medical) there might be quicker treatment and recovery.

[not-an-ostrich]

Another Affective Spectrum Disorder. It's the brain chemicals, not abuse causing these disorders. Once the "physcologist" leave this to real doctors (medical) there might be quicker treatment and recovery.

[jocon307]

"...eye amputations performed by psychotics."

Now that is the strangest thing I've heard today. Eye amputations, sheesh!

[Cacophonous]

I spent a whole 25 seconds listening to Ted Kennedy once. Is that the same thing? I was ready to peel my own skin off.

[I_dmc]

Another indivual surgically removed his own penis (not very professionally) and burned it. I would agree with calling those folks psychotic.

[Maceman]

Yes, but how many of us deliberately stub our toes a second time to repeat the experience?

[Ed_in_NJ]

Get the drug warriors on this -- for just $100 billion a year and a six trainloads of bureaucracy, they'll show us how to handle it.

[I_dmc]

Family Study of Affective Spectrum Disorder...

http://www2.uibk.ac.at/fakultaeten/c5/c518/forschung_documente/rtms-labor/documents/hudson_asd_archives_2003.pdf

[webstersII]

"I spent a whole 25 seconds listening to Ted Kennedy once. Is that the same thing? I was ready to peel my own skin off."

Only if you enjoyed it and came back for more.

[webstersII]

"Another Affective Spectrum Disorder. It's the brain chemicals, not abuse causing these disorders. Once the 'physcologist' leave this to real doctors
(medical) there might be quicker treatment and recovery."

The medical doctors can't get to the root of this problem. All they can do is treat the symptoms. The root of this usually involves feelings of guilt and self-hatred, that's why people self-mutilate because it refects what they think ought to be done to themselves.

The brain chemicals are depleted due the depression and anxiety these people feel. Adding back in what the body is missing due to depletion doesn't change the fact that the depression and axiety are what causes the chemicals to be depleted in the first place.

I personally know someone who struggled with this for a number of years, starting when she was a teen-ager, and medications relieved some of the symptoms but she didn't get any better until she dealt with abuse she had suffered growing up. You might recoil at the thought of doing some "touchy-feely" therapy, but medicine is only useful for disorders like this if it is used to initiate treatment and/or save someone's life. Having someone take anti-depressants for the rest of their lives is just treating symptoms.

[cyborg]

Ypur post is spot on. I was a self mulitator for years. Last year I just stopped. Yes I did take drugs for like two weeks... it was making me fall asleep at work. Drugs may help immediate situations but I can tell you as a recovering cutter they don't do jack for long term. The touchy feely therapy as much as people make fun, is more effective than medicine. Therapists are expensive so I got free,christian counseling with a church that specialized in helping abused girls with sound professional therapy. In the end, I really had to work out my own problems, which were sexual abuse,getting severely bullied at school,etc. I was a very bad cutter before 9-11. 9-11 had a profound effect upon me and I started opening my eyes and realizing the world is bigger than me.

Instead of therapists, I bought books. Lots of books, magazines, anything I could read. I wanted a motorcycle, but my mom could only handle a scooter. I socialize. Before I was extremely anti-social and afraid of people. I exercise everyday now as I am going to play a team sport. Now I'm losing weight, I can't wear short shorts because of the scars on my legs. That's probably a good thing because I don't want to look like a skank. I'm turning thirty, and I didn't think I would make it to thirty.

[tiamat]

I think you are onto something.

Tia

[cyborg]

it was called being scrupulous in the early church... religious ascetics were famous for committing all manner of horrifying acts of self mutilation.

[strela]

Well, this article certainly explains some of the mercy dates I've been on.

[webstersII]

Good on ya!

Glad to know you are recovering from that horrible abuse you suffered. People find all sorts of ways of coping -- some find alcohol or drugs, others find food, bad relationships, working to excess, etc.

All these things are an indication that someone needs help, but it takes alot of guts to get help and actually change who you are. Sounds like you are going to do well in life.

God bless you.