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...]]
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.