Having done a little research into the subject of self-harm in conjunction with sadomasochism I can find very little information where the two are discussed in relation to each other. I find this rather surprising as I assumed many people would associate the two as being similar. So with this in mind I have put a little article together in hope that it may clarify things a little so you can draw your own conclusions.

It is at this point that I must stress that although I have studied psychology at college I am not qualified in any way and what is written here is just what I have found out during research and my personal opinion.

Self-harm is when someone intentionally hurts or injures them selves, most often because they have difficulty coping with everyday problems. In a survey done by the Samaritans in the UK people who self-harm were shown to be more anxious, depressed and to have a lower self-esteem than those who do not. It may also take less obvious forms, including taking risks, staying in an abusive relationship, developing an eating or simply not looking after their own emotional or physical needs. Self-harm by proxy is getting someone else to cause the injury or pain often but not always using deceitful methods.

Self-harm is a broad term that can be displayed in many ways including: Cutting Taking overdoses of tablets or medicines Throwing their bodies against something Pulling out hair or eyelashes Scratching, picking or tearing at one's skin causing sores and scarring Burning Inhaling or sniffing harmful substances Punching, hitting and scratching Self-biting Picking wounds, ulceration or sutures Burning cigarette burns, self-incendiarism Insertion damage wire, pins, nails, pens etc. Ingestion damage swallowing corrosive chemicals, batteries, pins etc.

Most people who self harm rarely have suicidal tendencies as they see this as a way of coping with their problems instead of a way of giving up; having said that suicide is not unknown in some cases. Instead they often see these acts as a way to take back control over their mind when they have become depressed or anxious over what is happening to them and have no other means of expressing their feelings or asking for help.

Self-harm can go on for years for some, when a certain set of anxieties or emotions reoccur and becomes addictive, for others it happens just a few times while dealing with a specific problem then stops when the problem does.

Biology (Quoted by Frank Symons, associate professor of special education, who is working to understand possible biological underpinnings for the severe self-injurious behaviour):

‘Do some people with severe self-injurious behavior have altered levels of brain chemicals that influence their ability or inability to feel pain?’ We don’t know if altered pain perception influences whether a treatment will be effective.” From a behavioural learning theory perspective, some forms of self-inflicted injury among persons with developmental disabilities are, in part, learned phenomena related to a lack of ability to effectively communicate. Symons explains. “When a person who cannot communicate does something to hurt himself, it usually produces immediate social consequences. For many individuals, the behavior becomes learned as a way of communication, however imperfect. This model predicts, and much research confirms, that teaching the person to communicate more effectively will reduce self-injury.” Alternative theories, however, are based on biological mechanisms. Evidence indicates that self-injury represents altered neurochemistry involving neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, and the endogenous opioid peptides, our bodies’ natural “pain killers.” Symons is interested in discovering the possible role of underlying neural sensory pathways that might prevent a person from feeling pain or interpreting it correctly and whether this might be related to self-injury.

Sadomasochism on the other hand is the pleasure of giving and receiving of pain, humiliation or sensory experience, it encompasses a very wide range of patient behaviours from mild bondage or fantasy play to heavier activities which may include the consensual inflicting of pain. These experiences are often, but not always part of a scene that stimulates interactions between dominant and submissive or top and bottom. Some forms of sadomasochistic acts can be physically and psychologically dangerous, reassuringly the majority of people involved in these behaviours do so with an understanding of the risks they take and stay within carefully predetermined limits and safety guidelines.

People involved in S/m do not inflict any more harm each other mentally or physically, than is consented to prior to any activity or scene. In fact often S/m isn’t about pain, for example, tickling with a feather, bondage and sensory deprivation are as much a part of a S/m scene and whips, paddles and knives.

Sadomasochism is a broad term that can be displayed in many ways including: Cutting CP Edge play Biting Tickling Sensory deprivation. Bondage CBT

Biology: So, how does all the work? Someone who is more experienced may start off slowly or with a small amount of pain; This is known as the warm up which brings blood vessels closer to the skins surface in the case of spanking, flogging etc and what causes the skin to turn pink. It will also cause endorphins and adrenaline to be released in to the body. All this enables the receiver to endure more.

Gradually, the pace is increased or intensified, which will in turn increase the amount of chemicals released into the body. (It has also been noted that the levels of testosterone in the body change during S/m scene, in the Sadist they increase and in the masochist they decrease).

I have tried to remain unbiased in this article and will leave you to draw your own conclusions; I am happy in my belief that 99% of the time there is no connection between self-harm, self-harm by proxy and sadomasochism. But also believe that there are exceptions that break every rule.