[hocus pocus]

I will definitely include those things. My angle is mostly going to be about sexual self-harm in people who have been sexually abused but I want to mention gender dysphoria because I think that could make someone want to harm themselves sexually.

I think there's a variety of reasons why people use it as self-harm. I would do it to recreate the physical and emotional pain I felt during the abuse, similar to why I'd cut. It was just another way to self-harm for me. I think some people do it because their abuse was painful and they can't have an orgasm unless they're in pain. They might think they deserve it, like you said, or their abusers made that painful connection and they do not like that part of their body so they feel the need to harm it. Other people might force themselves into it to try and show themselves that sex is okay, and some people might be angry. Almost like an, "I dare you" kind of way. I had that attitude for a while and still do sometimes.

But in addition to talking about self-harm through masturbation and sex, I want to talk about regular genital self-harm that doesn't include either of those. I could just title the article "sexual self-harm" so they all fit.

I'm planning on starting a draft soon.