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1612312 tn?1324791860

Can a drastic, impulsive haircut be considered self-mutilation?

i'm pretty sure, in my case, it can... but i'd just like a second opinion... cuz i guess i'm... curious. i dont know if that's the right word, but i want to know.

well, for the past like year and a half, i've been basicaly hell-bent on growing my hair out to the point that i'd be sitting on it if i didnt move it out of the way. it was just past the waistband of my pants when i cut it. i always wore it in a braid, and that was the only time i could honestly *like* my hair. when it was down, i hated it. i couldnt stand the sight of it, but i was just too attached to cut it off. my dad always took every chance he could to tell me i needed it cut... and i always refused. but a few weeks ago i got an idea in my head to cut it, and i really didnt want to, but i convinced myself to get it done. i was scared, but i just told myself that i didnt deserve to have my hair so long, and that i'd be able to do stuff with it if i cut it all off. so i did. i chopped off over a foot and loved it. but now that the novelty is starting to fade, i find myself missing my familiar braid and wanting it back...

so that leaves us at the question, is what i've done considered self-mutilation?
[[i've also got a bit of a history of depression, and a few instances of cutting... one being painfully recent...]]
Best Answer
Avatar universal
Self-mutilation would be anything that can physically injure yourself(cutting, burning, hitting, hair-pulling -out of scalp, etc), so cutting your hair would not be considered self-mutilation. Though, cutting your hair off after a very long time can be emotionally traumatizing to some individuals as they have become so attached to it, which could be your case. Did you ever donate your hair? Or was it just cut?

If you have problems with depression and self-harm, I do recommend that you see someone for help on working through that. Counseling can be very beneficial and do a lot for you if you give it a shot.  
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Avatar universal
I used to be a cutter, guess that's what it is called.  I have cut my hair in anger, like chopping it off. Yeah I made a mess of it. I didn't much care. Over time I kept trimming until it looked ok. I get why she asked that question though. Hair grows back, but the scars on my arms won't go away.
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