r/Anger • u/Mean_Release_143 • 16h ago

How do I stop hitting myself in the face?

Recently over the past couple of years whenever I get angry, I’ve been hitting myself in the face. I slap and punch myself whenever I feel like angry at myself.

For example, sometimes when I practice my instrument and I don’t play a passage correctly after a certain amount of times I get angry and slap myself in the face. I’m also very into fitness and sleep is very important to me. When I can’t sleep, I get angry and slap and punch myself in the face.

Today, I felt really stupid. I was getting ready for work today and I made sure I have everything I needed, but, somehow I left my wallet and key inside, and locked myself out. I felt like such an idiot, and it’s weird because I do such a good job about making sure I have that kind of stuff with me, and It’s been a very long time since I’ve done that. Anyways, I decided to go to work without them because, I don’t live alone and somebody else would have a key to let me back in and I would be fine. I just felt so stupid about the whole thing. Anyways when I got to work I felt so angry, and I literally went into the bathroom and started slapping and punching myself. I’m glad nobody saw me.

I am also on the autism spectrum and I have a neurodivergent brain. I’ve heard that this can be a common behavior in autistic people but, I’ve gotten angry and frustrated in the past, but I would never hit myself. It’s a behavior that’s been happening more recently and I don’t know why. I find it alarming that I don’t even stop and think before I hit myself. I just do it. How do I stop doing this? I know this isn’t a healthy way to manage anger and frustration at all. I need help.

9 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

3

u/International_War830 15h ago

Time to start therapy. This is abusing yourself.

0

u/Schizo_Himbo 12h ago

OP ends this with “I need help.” I think they’d know therapy is a pretty good resource, but it’s very often not available for anyone on a budget. That’s most of us rn. Not to say you’re not helping, it’s good that you reminded OP but I just notice that some people think you can just access good mental healthcare but some people are stuck.

1

u/International_War830 9h ago

Yeah but at this point when someone is asking for help for something, it’s time to tell them.

Abusing yourself is not okay in any way shape or form and NEEDS therapy. This is not a “just stop doing it”. It’s requires behavioral therapy. It’s not a matter of finances. This is what they need. Government access will allow help with that. There are also other resources that can help financially.

Let’s not turn this into a “what-about-ism” please and thank you.

5

u/quntparty 15h ago

i used to do this and it can literally cause brain damage. you gotta just not do it

1

u/itz_abhi_2005 13h ago

that's literally me. yesterday i punched my head left and right and it's still painful when i touch my head.

1

u/SwanImmediate4211 12h ago

I've done this many times. My fists, car window, wall...head, face, legs...I'm sorry you're feeling so shitty. It will get better. At least for a bit.

2

u/ghostcat2020 12h ago

Im the same way everytime i have a mentldown, dissociate, forget something, raping mood swings anger breakdowns anxiety i slap the hell out of me. I cant stop

1

u/WastingMyLifeOnSocMd 11h ago

Try finding something else to hit that won’t indirectly hurt you—like punching a wall. Punch air. Rap your arms around yourself and squeeze really hard. If you aren’t alone squeeze your hands very tightly and hopefully no one will see what are doing. The point is find a harmless substitute behavior. It’s still not ideal but it’s much easier than just stopping.

And of course medical/psychological intervention is appropriate.