--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was younger, I did self-mutilate…" description: "\"When I was younger, I did self-mutilate. I'd be upset, so I'd do it, & it would calm me down. It's a horrible way to feel better. But there are two par..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80b/christina-ricci-2657_brain_when-i-was-younger-i-did-self-mutilate-i_1590372.jpg" --- # When I was younger, I did self-mutilate. I'd be upset, so… ![“When I was younger, I did self-mutilate. I'd be upset, so I'd do it, & it would calm me down. It's a horrible way to feel better. But there are two parts of your brain - one that really wants to destroy the other. & sometimes the idea of self-destruction is very romantic. I got over that.” quote by Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80b/christina-ricci-2657_brain_when-i-was-younger-i-did-self-mutilate-i_1590372.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80b/christina-ricci-2657_brain_when-i-was-younger-i-did-self-mutilate-i_1590372.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80b/christina-ricci-2657_brain_when-i-was-younger-i-did-self-mutilate-i_1590372.jpg) > “When I was younger, I did self-mutilate. I'd be upset, so I'd do it, & it would calm me down. It's a horrible way to feel better. But there are two parts of your brain - one that really wants to destroy the other. & sometimes the idea of self-destruction is very romantic. I got over that.” [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describing past self‑harm as a coping mechanism, acknowledging its destructive allure, and sharing recovery from that harmful pattern. **In simple terms:** Self‑harm used to calm distress, now overcome. Key Takeaway Seek healthier coping strategies. Themes mental health self‑destruction recovery Mood reflective hopeful serious Type psychological personal When to use this quote - therapy sessions - support groups - mindfulness practice - creative outlets Key Concepts psychology of self‑injury neurobiology of coping Questions to Reflect On - What healthier habits can replace self‑harm urges? - How can you support others facing similar struggles? A Different Perspective Recovery is non‑linear and may relapse. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Calm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calm/) [Destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destruction/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-destruction/) [Self harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-harm/) ## Related quotes > [“But there was a streak in me, a perverse one, which prevented me from giving the essential self. This "perversity" always voiced itself thus:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/but-there-was-a-streak-in-me-a-perverse-one-which-prevented-me-from/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [There's something very romantic about self-destruction and sabotaging your life, and taking a hammer to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-way/there-s-something-very-romantic-about-self-destruction-and-sabotaging/) [Gerard Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-way/) > [“It's 4am again and I'm just getting started. People are boring and I want to burn with excitement or anger and bleed, bleed through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-eriksson/it-s-4am-again-and-i-m-just-getting-started-people-are-boring-and-i/) [Charlotte Eriksson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-eriksson/) > [A man who wants to mutilate himself is certainly damned, isn't he?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/a-man-who-wants-to-mutilate-himself-is-certainly-damned-isn-t-he/) [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) > [People out there must be told about the self-loathing that follows rape and how it's the greatest breakage in divine law to mutilate themselves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/people-out-there-must-be-told-about-the-self-loathing-that-follows/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [A man who would mutilate himself is well damned, isn't he?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/primo-levi/a-man-who-would-mutilate-himself-is-well-damned-isn-t-he/) [Primo Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/primo-levi/) > [“The pictures are bound to mutilate the words. Those words weren't meant to have pictures with them!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-pictures-are-bound-to-mutilate-the-words-those-words-weren-t/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [When you rape, beat, maim, mutilate, burn, bury, and terrorize women, you destroy the essential life energy on the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/when-you-rape-beat-maim-mutilate-burn-bury-and-terrorize-women-you/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [When you mutilate movies for mass media, you tamper with the hearts and minds of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-beatty/when-you-mutilate-movies-for-mass-media-you-tamper-with-the-hearts/) [Warren Beatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-beatty/) > [“Go forth and mutilate fish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-hardy/go-forth-and-mutilate-fish/) [Janice Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-hardy/) > [You'll never see the moments coming that will for ever mutilate your life-at least not until after they've mowed you down. -Savitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/you-ll-never-see-the-moments-coming-that-will-for-ever-mutilate-your/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [I've never met a man I didn't mutilate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivian-stanshall/i-ve-never-met-a-man-i-didn-t-mutilate/) [Vivian Stanshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivian-stanshall/) > [Society isn't a simple organism with one nucleus and a fringe of little feet, it's an infinitely complex living structure and if you try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/society-isn-t-a-simple-organism-with-one-nucleus-and-a-fringe-of/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [“They mutilate they torment each other with silences with words as if they had another life to live they do so as if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadeusz-r-ewicz/they-mutilate-they-torment-each-other-with-silences-with-words-as-if/) Tadeusz Rózewicz > [We mutilate the meanings, so they are easy to deny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smashing-pumpkins/we-mutilate-the-meanings-so-they-are-easy-to-deny/) [Smashing Pumpkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smashing-pumpkins/) ## More by Christina Ricci > [When I was a little girl - well, like, a teenager - I wanted to be Sam Jackson. I always wanted to be men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/when-i-was-a-little-girl-well-like-a-teenager-i-wanted-to-be-sam/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [I always knew that I was kind of bored; the regular life of a child didn't fit me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/i-always-knew-that-i-was-kind-of-bored-the-regular-life-of-a-child/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [I stand up for other people, I'm very protective of people around me. If I feel like somebody is getting a bad rap or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/i-stand-up-for-other-people-i-m-very-protective-of-people-around-me/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [This life that I've led has been really well suited for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/this-life-that-i-ve-led-has-been-really-well-suited-for-me/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [I was a big sci-fi fantasy geek when I was younger... secretly, in my room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/i-was-a-big-sci-fi-fantasy-geek-when-i-was-younger-secretly-in-my-room/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [I do like Tom Petty an awful lot. I always say that he's my real father, but I'm joking in that imaginary orphan way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/i-do-like-tom-petty-an-awful-lot-i-always-say-that-he-s-my-real/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [I've been to therapists my whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/i-ve-been-to-therapists-my-whole-life/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [You always fear when you're making a movie that has a moral to the story that people are going to reject the idea of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/you-always-fear-when-you-re-making-a-movie-that-has-a-moral-to-the/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [Most people don't walk around knowing what other people think about them, and I don't think it's healthy to know what faceless strangers who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/most-people-don-t-walk-around-knowing-what-other-people-think-about/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [What you feel is important may not be what the director feels is important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/what-you-feel-is-important-may-not-be-what-the-director-feels-is/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [I think we need great artists making great work - women, men, whoever. I think what's great about TV now is there are so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/i-think-we-need-great-artists-making-great-work-women-men-whoever-i/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [I eat crap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/i-eat-crap/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [I'm merely trying to be something akin to a nice, kind, good actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/i-m-merely-trying-to-be-something-akin-to-a-nice-kind-good-actress/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [The whole growing-up process seems to have eluded me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/the-whole-growing-up-process-seems-to-have-eluded-me/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [Remember who you are. It's really okay to be who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/remember-who-you-are-it-s-really-okay-to-be-who-you-are/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) [Explore all 155 Christina Ricci quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) ## More Brain quotes > [The brain abhors discrepancies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/the-brain-abhors-discrepancies/) [Vilayanur S. Ramachandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/) > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [down with ought with because with every brain that thinks it thinks nor dares to feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/down-with-ought-with-because-with-every-brain-that-thinks-it-thinks/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [I prefer the word 'musician.' I'm a musician and a composer. I have a problem with the word 'artist.' I don't know if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-prefer-the-word-musician-i-m-a-musician-and-a-composer-i-have-a/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [Thinking of sex provides enough mental stimulation to reduce risk of diseases that damage the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thinking-of-sex-provides-enough-mental-stimulation-to-reduce-risk-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My writing routine is: get son off to school and sit down at 8 A.M. I read what I wrote the day before, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chevalier/my-writing-routine-is-get-son-off-to-school-and-sit-down-at-8-a-m-i/) [Tracy Chevalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chevalier/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [Without illusions. I love you because you are fallible and because your poor misguided testosterone-corrupted brain has you doing cartwheels trying not to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-gerard/without-illusions-i-love-you-because-you-are-fallible-and-because/) [Cindy Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-gerard/) > [being asked to decide between your passion for work and your passion for children was like being asked by your doctor whether you preferred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bevington/being-asked-to-decide-between-your-passion-for-work-and-your-passion/) [Helen Bevington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bevington/) > [I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label. Now I have a clearer understanding of what's wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-boyle/i-was-told-i-had-brain-damage-i-always-knew-it-was-an-unfair-label/) [Susan Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-boyle/) > [The act of learning to read added an entirely new circuit to our hominid brain's repertoire. The long developmental process of learning to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/the-act-of-learning-to-read-added-an-entirely-new-circuit-to-our/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [I can't let fear kill my creative brain. Fear is the killer. Your bad choices come from fear. And I'm constantly combating fear. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-can-t-let-fear-kill-my-creative-brain-fear-is-the-killer-your-bad/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [I am the way I am. If you like me because I'm glamorous, so be it. 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