The goal of the semester paper is to have you research and write an argument about an issue that matters...

Angie Solis

English 1020

Professor Sullivan

October 29th, 2015

Tired of Living and Scared of Dying

Self-harm among the young people has come along in answering the puzzle on its real intention. The major controversy is the fact that self-harm is suicidal or not. The controversy is on the fact that some psychologists believe that it is indirect of taking suicides in a short way. Flip sides exist the explanation of the self-harm and the impact on the person at the end (Klonsky 2). As the person takes a metal to bruise his body and at the end his life.

The historical aspect of this happened, in 2012 in a small town in Carrington where one Hayden down in his house with no hope of life again decided to harm himself to death. He had no hope has he had looked for a job for very long time without success. He had been living life with no success. At the end of the all personal controversy, he felt he should do something that will have full focus and attention and at the same time may be taking his life slowly. He chose self-harm on his chest and the blunt drawing around his heart. On being interviewed (Hardy 1), he claimed he wanted his heart where if it can go through, it can kill him slowly. In the process of it all, the pain inflicted on him was so unbearable for him that at the end he had to extend the self-harm that led to losing of blood and eventually led to his death. It is very true that this pain was so much, and it was taken to be a form of suicide after the autopsy that was done later on.

After this incident that attracted a lot of attention from the media and general public brought in an n heated debate whether self-harm is meant to cause suicide or not (Klonsky 6). The death of Hayden was used as the source of debate. It is unto this point that the paper will discuss the relevance of the controversy in deeply understanding the controversy that exists.

Those in support of the similarity in self-harm and suicide is that they claim meant to inflict pain on oneself. The support given to this kind of though is on the fact when one is committing suicide; he or she undergoes some pain that also happens with self-harm. A person may inflict pain on himself so that he or she may do in the process (Hardy).Another school of thought for this kind of reasoning is that self-harm is done when one is under depression and may do it to divert the depression. While doing this, one may lose life and may be taken to be intentional. So, be it that self-harm is a way of committing suicide, it is then acceptable.

To counter the controversy of whether self-harm is meant to cause suicide, some school of thought have brought it clear the differences between the two issues. According to (Cassada 2-3)one reason that differentiates self-harm from suicide is the intent. Self-harm is usually meant to assure one that he or she is still alive and counter emotional numbness. At some point in life, one may feel that there is a disconnect between them and the world around. To ensure that they are still alive and well, they undergo self-harm. The reaction of the body as a result of such pains that result from self-harm is an assurance of wellness. On the other hand, an explanation to differentiate self-harm from suicide is that suicide is meant to evade distress and pain. It is believed that most of the people who die in the process of self-harm don’t usually intent so, but they find themselves dying. It, therefore, confirms that self-harm is not majorly meant for suicide.

On bringing the controversy to a close, it is important to bring it clear that the cases of Hayden cannot be assumed. It happens in some cases because some people find it to be a better way of dying. While some people have died in the process of self, doctors who do autopsy claim that it must have happened out of coincidence (Cassada 4).In hospitals, some medications may need one to be bruised to get well. In the process, one may die out of the pain. It will not be taken as a form of suicide but as dying in the process of medication.

In conclusion, it can be said that self has its original intention (Klonsky 9) in the person doing. Some may do for the reasons of assurance of not being, numb, some for diverting their depression or stress to self and others still is a way of coping with the world. On the other hand, suicide is committed for the reason of avoiding pain or stress. The death of Hayden in the process of self-harming is a rare case though it brought a lot of controversies on the intention of self-harm; it does not hold enough ground to be validated.

Work cited

Cassada, Raychelle. "Psychology." Understanding Suicide and Self-Harm 18 Oct 2012: 1-5.

Hardy, Laurey. "Health Care Place." The difference Between Self Harm and Suicidal Behaviour 1 August 2014: 1.

Klonsky, E. D. "Non-Suicidal Self-Injury: An Introduction." Journal of Clinical Psychology (2009): 1-23.

Solis