This is archiving a Twitter thread I wrote
[suicide, “self-harm”]
Possibly hot take:
I really don’t like words like self-harm & self-destruction when talking abt mental illness. Ppl are learning to say dying by suicide instead of committing suicide [as if it was a sin/crime] to highlight it as due to a medical issue. 1/
[“self-harm”]
Saying “self-harm” seems to imply both choice & an intent to harm & that’s not it when it comes to mental illness. It’s a symptom of a medical issue just like many other symptoms such as depression related fatigue. That fatigue is not volitional either. 2/
[“self-harm”]
I think speaking abt self-harm & broadly self-destruction is another way of moralizing symptoms of medical conditions.
Also just wildly inaccurate abt intent/goal
3/
[“self-harm”]
Ex. When I’ve personally engaged in behaviors labeled as “self harm” it’s almost always impulsive bc I feel physically agitated & the goal is to release that energy not “harm” myself.
4/
[“self-harm”]
Alternatively I’ve been background aware of gating mechanisms for pain in the brain. Add impulsivity & I’ve basically changed my mind’s focus from emotional pain to physical pain. The intent was to help tolerate emotional pain not cause “harm”
5/
[“self-harm”]
Since the impact can be physically harmful tho not necessarily the intent, I think prob something like maladaptive emotional regulation or something would be a better label. Possibly psych HCPs already call it that idk.
6/
[“self-harm”]
Either way “self-harm” is an inaccurate label for many ppl & adds to moralizing of mental illness symptoms
7/end
She Smacks Her Forehead 