Is self harm normal?

[blumemusik♫]

Well I was thinking. Is it 'normal' to self harm nowadays? Or if someone does it, is it always a sign of something worse like depression?

[Lullaby857]

It's usually used as an outlet when someone can't think of a better way to express themselves. It's becoming more and more common, so I guess you could say it's becoming the norm, but that doesn't mean it's fine.

[Le bonheur*]

Most of the time it is a sign of depression (or worse). Some people do it because they were taught it. Others do it to relieve anger and nothing more. It really all depends on the person.

[bailatyvm]

Hm, well, where I am it's not very normal. But it's generally a sign of depression, yes. But you have to think that a lot of people have depression.

[Bubbles37]

The fact that many people SH makes it common. I would say it's not normal though.

[Nomophobia]

I think there is a difference here between it being common and normal. A lot of people do it, but its still pretty taboo and not generally accepted as 'normal' in most societies. It is a sign that something isn't right or normal within that persons life, so its not what you would really call normal.

Sadly, I know people who have done it cuz they thought it was "cool" and liked the scars it left () but generally it is associated with depression. Hope that helped

[Dez]

It's becoming pretty common. I can say that I do SH but I know like somewhere around 5-7 others who do it, if not more, but it's not technically 'normal'. It's a sign that there's something wrong, though, possibly depression or another mental disorder, or just a bad way of coping.

[ReluctantPegasister]

I would say that self-harm is abnormal (Deviating from what is normal or usual, typically in a way that is undesirable) behavior, not normal behavior.

[Jenna Peterson]

Heaven help us if SH ever becomes 'normal' for the human race! lol. In all serious, though, it definitely does seem more 'common,' as an alternate term. I'm not sure if it actually is happening more frequently, or if it's just more frequently exposed, but it appears to be out there more these days.

It can mean a wide range of things. It's almost always a symptom of a much bigger problem. Depression is one of the common ones, yes, but it can also be a symptom of anxiety disorders, PTSD, bipolar, various personality disorders, active or past abuse/bullying, self esteem/self-image issues, and stress, to name a few. It can be a coping mechanism, an addiction, an impulse or, yes, a cry for help. It's rarely a suicidal act, though that's not to say that it's never a suicidal act.

And yes, some kids/teens do fall into the trap of doing it 'because it's cool.' Even those ones, though, likely have underlying troubles if they actually continue with it.

[Shanielle]

I think it is common, but I don't know about it being normal. It's more common than you'd think. I know two other people at my school who do it... But that doesn't make it better.

[Beautiful.Dangerous.]

It depends what you mean... Normal people self harm, it doesn't make people weird or anything for doing it, because obviously something is troubling them. But I wouldn't say its a normal behavior. People do it for different reasons,some become addicted,some don't.The bottom line is, it definitely isn't healthy. What's "normal" and what isn't just kind of depends on who's answering the question.