SH *is* a coping mechanism, not necessarily a long-term healthy one, but it is a significant distraction from the mental pain. Often for me it is seeking to shock myself out of a downward spiral, a dissociation, something that gets my attention. The subsequent release of endorphins to deal with the physical pain is no small thing, either, so yeah, it has addictive qualities to it as well.
It took a very long time to realize I was suffering from PTSD, and absolutely *none* of my psychs even had an inkling of an idea about the SH aspect, much less the cause of it.
OTOH, from my first contact with a physician who was genuinely interested in helping me, mindfulness has been a key influencing study and discipline I work at. It's most definitely not there all the time (how could it be?) and I often have to work at doing the things that bring it.
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regna
(no subject)
Date: 2014-01-17 04:48 pm (UTC)It took a very long time to realize I was suffering from PTSD, and absolutely *none* of my psychs even had an inkling of an idea about the SH aspect, much less the cause of it.
OTOH, from my first contact with a physician who was genuinely interested in helping me, mindfulness has been a key influencing study and discipline I work at. It's most definitely not there all the time (how could it be?) and I often have to work at doing the things that bring it.
Keep breathing, quite literally, deliberately.
<3