Self Harm, Cutting, Or Not?

[Geetarist_6]

Is it self harm, cutting, or nothing?
---------------------------------------------
I used to cut myself (a few years ago)
And I recently told my friends.
(I am doing better now) :)
They asked me when I started. I said 3 years ago, but then I realized: I never actually ''cut'' 3 years ago.
I cut (LITERALLY) 2 years ago.
Here's why:
During the first year, I would take scissors and run it across my arm where it would leave white, temporary lines.
It never bled; it never turned red.
It was just white little scratches that didn't overall hurt; it was the ''attempting-to-cut'' process that hurt.
So my question is, was that self-harm?
I just wanted to know how to answer her question.

Is that self-harm?
I wonder, because, I DID impose pain directly on my skin; physically.
Yet, I never truly cut or tore anything while purposefully attempting to cut.

It was on purpose; (self harm?)
yet it was never actual cutting (not self harm?)

It goes back to my question:
Was it:
Self-harm?
Cutting?
Or...Just nothing?
(Although it really hurt physically when I would use the scissors on my skin...but failed to LITERALLY ''cut''...)

[waterboatman]

From reading your post I think you should see your GP for a referral to see a councillor. You don't say why you did it.

[ummmm]

Yes...it's a form of self harm.

Are you in the UK?

[bravejordy]

It may help to check out the following website that deals with self-harm:-

http://www.recoveryourlife.com/

[Old_Geezer]

You are causing harm to yourself in the form of minor scratches, so yes, strictly speaking, it is "self harm" albeit minor. "Self harm" is not exclusive to those who cut themselves.

But labelling is not so much the issue. I can see why you ask if it were nothing because there was no lasting thing to treat, but it is the mental processes that lead you to flirt with this, that should be the concern. It sounds as if it may be a warning sign, and it would be wise for you to understand why you did it.

[Geetarist_6]

I just want to add: I specifically wrote, ''I USED to cut myself''.
I am doing fine now.
It was 3 years ago.
I simply wanted to know if minor scratching that was temporary and not that much painful, considered self-harm.

Thanks to Mark for clearing it up for me :)

[Mamyalynne]

It was the preamble to cutting proper,so yes it was the start of your self harming.

May I congratulate you on the very obvious improvements you have made - no easy task.

[andy-hughes]

I would say it is self-harm, because as advised, it is a preamble to actual cutting, which thankfully you seem to have avoided.

Apart from the obvious, self-harm is dangerous because it usually requires an increase in intensity to provide the same stimulus as initially experienced, so I am glad you did not continue down that path.