Drug Use as Self-Harm?

I was just recently officially diagnosed with BPD. I do admit that I have trouble regulating emotions. However, my psychologist made it abundantly clear that one of the main problems with BPD is self harming.

I in no way, shape, or form self harm, yet my psychologist seemed to think that my drug use is a form of self-harm, just not in the classic sense.

What do you think? Can repeatedly abusing substances, even one as harmless as marijuana, be classified as self harm? Am I in denial or is he correct?

littlearcher wrote:hello and welcome to the forum.

from my understanding while self harm is common in many people with bpd it isn't a factor for all people with bpd.

so it's possible that you still could have bpd without seeing drug use as self harm.

what do you think?

Interesting. My psychologist seemed to convey a sense of necessity when it comes to self harm and and BPD. Perhaps I picked a quack!

Hi

I dont have BPD (I have bipolar) but I have a long history of self harm (cutting mainly, now in remission) and also extensive drug use and self medicating. I think that drug use can be categorised as self harm tho I dont view it in the same way as cutting. However it is potentially dangerous and damaging and you are inflicting it on yourself so I can see why it is thought of as self harm. It also often comes from the same sort of place and emotions as other self harm does in my experience. SO whilst it is not cutting etc I do think it is worth having a think about why you use drugs. I know this can be difficult and painful to do tho.

Hugs

Cracked

in my opinion drug abuse can be considered self-harm, but certainly not in the case of cannabis.


remember to smoke weed every day!

Like Archer said, though self-harm isn't deemed mandatory (technically, no one symptom is), it is a very common one, and one that many medical professionals do associate with alcohol or drug use. A lot of that depends on the usage, though.

I don't drink anymore, and I stay away from drugs; not because I don't like them, but because I like them too much. I had this very bad habit of doing drugs (especially pills) without caring what they were - if they were around, they were fair game. I don't remember ever having asked what a drug is before taking it; I just wanted something to help me escape myself, even if for a short time.

Since I had to quit drinking (due to the prescription meds), my cutting has increased exponentially. It's usually for the same reasons, though. I want to focus on something other than the emotional pain inside of me, even if that means creating physical pain.

So, while I'm not a professional, so I can't give an official answer, and I'm not Carnac the Magnificent, so I can't tell you what your psychologist is thinking, I can certainly understand the correlation between drug use and self-harm.