TeenHelp - does biting your arm count as self harm?

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- - does biting your arm count as self harm? (http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f12-self-harm/t146668-does-biting-your-arm-count-self-harm/)

does biting your arm count as self harm?

when I get really angry I tend to either bite my finger or my arm, it's only normally at night time when my cat stresses me out from crying all night, other the that I don't really do it, I don't mean to do it and I don't want to hurt myself nor do I have intentions to do it, I have ocd and anxiety and it occurred to me that maybe I am self harming without noticing? I have always told my therapist that I don't self harm as I never really took notice of biting my arm, I'm quite worried as I do as fears about harming myself or getting ill and dying that sort of thing, has anyone got any advice or if they could tell me if I am
Self harming? Sorry if this doesn't make much sense. :?

Re: does biting your arm count as self harm?

Hi there,

I've looked into what classifies as self harm, and from our sticky thread "Is this self harm?" I found this -

Quote:

Anything you do to physically hurt yourself in order help yourself cope with a situation is self harm.

I think your situation is a little different, but it does make sense. If you're unaware and don't bite your arms and fingers for the pain, I don't think it's quite there, but it could just be a different type of self harm. I think you should definitely talk to your therapist about it though and let them know, because either way it is hurting you. I have a friend who picks her fingers when stuff like that happens, and she has OCD and anxiety as well. I do not think it counts technically as self harm, but I am not an professional.

I hope this is helpful!