Whitty,

I still do it on occasion, though I do fight the urge most of the time. And yes, I can understand what you say about it being a "valid self-medicating" option. Sometimes one feels its the only way to take back the power and that at least no-one else is getting hurt.

But when I'm not in that mindset I do fully realise that its not...well...normal behaviour. If you've arrived at a place where you don't do it anymore then maybe, deep down, you may have actually questioned whether or not it really is valid?

For those of you who want to really help someone (and yourselves) I'd advice you to follow your Samaritanian feelings and look this up: http://emotional-freedom-technique.tk
Once you are there scroll down to:"For proof, here is a sampling of our actual cases. They are written for you by everyday citizens, physicians and therapists" Then click on:"you can get started for free." then go to the center box and tick it and fill in your email address and click "email me my package"
You will be delighted about this easy to do technique for yourself and your loved ones (and strangers:-)

Boaz

What Romany said.

And an extra ditto on 'the kid' having a 'nice figure'.

As someone who has also mental health issues, I do not think you approaching her employer would be a helpful thing to do - as Romany pointed out, 'the nice kid' could lose her job.

Just a point in future, Boaz, when you recount your personal experiences, the level of attractiveness of a woman is rarely germane to a story. People self-harm irrespective of their outward appearance. At the very least you could've left out your opinion of her body - detracts from your credibility, which is already in deficit.

Oh, what a surprise, Fractelle popping up and attempting to start a gender war.

If you have mental health issues yourself, I find it curious you feel superior enough to constantly critique my emotional wellbeing on other threads, highlighting the 'issues' I supposedly have, no matter how carefully worded you are forced to be by the moderator.

Having just defended Whitty against Fractelle in another thread, I'm now vice versing.

It was Boazy who introduced the idea that the girl's figure had a bearing on the story. To be honest, I found it creepy too. It's why I didn't post. I'm sure that may be a libelous, horrible, offensive, feministy thing to say, but nevertheless it's true. It creeped me out.

The second reason I didn't post was that Whitty and Romany posted with real empathy and understanding of the issue. I really appreciated you both discussing your own experiences. Rather brave, I would have thought.

Hmmm most interesting. Whitty and Romany...thanx for taking the thread at face value and seeking to contribute positively. Glad you are not immersed in cynicism and morbidity as some appear to be. I never would have thought that some of 'us' here actually engaged in such activity like self harm.. the reasons behind it from Whitty are quite enlightening. Please feel free to help us understand you more, and why 'that' means of self expression was chosen by you. (Whitty has mentioned about taking control etc)

Vanilla and Fractelle.. the 'creepiness' is in your own minds. Being women you possibly don't realize how a man thinks.. and this is the 'bearing' it has to a male mind (mine anyway) "If she is reasonably attractive and has a happy disposition.. it is reasonable to assume she might be popular, hence.. her self esteem should be high, not low so why is she harming herself?" Which of course is a lead-in to "Is she being abused, does she have mental health issues..etc etc"

If you 2 don't 'get' that.. then please take your morbid creepy judgementalism somewhere else, because until you spoke up, this thread was going along very well with all parties seeking to build up...rather than tear down. So, I'll probably ignore all subsequent 'contributions' (if they can be called that) from you two on this thread. (unless you actually try to contribute something worthwhile)