--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If self harm was for attention, we'd be…" description: "\"If self harm was for attention, we'd be doing it in front of your face. We wouldn't barricade our bedroom door, lock the bathroom door, cover it with l..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/patience-227_attention_if-self-harm-was-for-attention-we-d-be-d_3087805.jpg" --- # If self harm was for attention, we'd be doing it in front… ![“If self harm was for attention, we'd be doing it in front of your face. We wouldn't barricade our bedroom door, lock the bathroom door, cover it with long sleeves, do it places no one will think of looking, look so ashamed when you asked to see it, be so socially aware of ourselves, be laughing…” quote by Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/patience-227_attention_if-self-harm-was-for-attention-we-d-be-d_3087805.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/patience-227_attention_if-self-harm-was-for-attention-we-d-be-d_3087805.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/patience-227_attention_if-self-harm-was-for-attention-we-d-be-d_3087805.jpg) > “If self harm was for attention, we'd be doing it in front of your face. We wouldn't barricade our bedroom door, lock the bathroom door, cover it with long sleeves, do it places no one will think of looking, look so ashamed when you asked to see it, be so socially aware of ourselves, be laughing one second then silent the next, keep everything from you if it was for 'attention', it just so happens you found out, probably by accident, dont get involved.” [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights the hidden, private nature of self‑harm and rejects the notion that it is performed for attention. **In simple terms:** Self‑harm is a secret, not a show for others. Key Takeaway Recognize that self‑harm is often a private struggle, not a performance. Themes mental health stigma privacy self‑harm communication Mood empathetic concerned Type reflective educational When to use this quote - counseling sessions - support groups - online mental‑health forums - educational workshops Key Concepts psychology empathy social perception Questions to Reflect On - How can we create safe spaces for disclosure? - What signs indicate genuine distress versus attention‑seeking? A Different Perspective Self‑harm may still be used manipulatively in rare cases, so context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Attention Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention-doing-736098/) [Attention Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention-just-1457340/) [Cutting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cutting/) [Harm Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm-attention-3041585/) [Self harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-harm/) ## Related quotes > [You know what bothers me the most? When people take self-harm for attention. They lie about how many cuts and scars they have and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-hope/you-know-what-bothers-me-the-most-when-people-take-self-harm-for/) [Amber Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-hope/) > [When exercising, be sure to focus your attention on what you are doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-haney/when-exercising-be-sure-to-focus-your-attention-on-what-you-are-doing/) [Lee Haney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-haney/) > [You dont have to be naked to get attention just be yourself he will like you more by being you..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frenchqueen/you-dont-have-to-be-naked-to-get-attention-just-be-yourself-he-will/) [Frenchqueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frenchqueen/) > [Just live your life. Nobody else's. You don't have to make anybody else happy only yourself. You don't have to try to get attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-live-your-life-nobody-else-s-you-don-t-have-to-make-anybody-else/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I honestly didn't expect this much attention, but it just keeps happening so I must be doing something right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddy-adu/i-honestly-didn-t-expect-this-much-attention-but-it-just-keeps/) [Freddy Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddy-adu/) > [Always do your best never give up sometimes people get on your last nerves but don't pay attention and just do it c:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-do-your-best-never-give-up-sometimes-people-get-on-your-last/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't want to fight for your attention, I just want to be worth to mention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-want-to-fight-for-your-attention-i-just-want-to-be-worth-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“don't call the doctors cause they've seen it all before they'll say just let her crash and burn she'll learn the attention just encourages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-dresden-dolls/don-t-call-the-doctors-cause-they-ve-seen-it-all-before-they-ll-say/) [The Dresden Dolls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-dresden-dolls/) > [Everybody wants attention, more or less. I just want a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zara-larsson/everybody-wants-attention-more-or-less-i-just-want-a-lot/) [Zara Larsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zara-larsson/) > [To get a man's attention, just stand in front of the TV and don't move. He'll talk to you. I promise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-allen/to-get-a-man-s-attention-just-stand-in-front-of-the-tv-and-don-t-move/) [Tim Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-allen/) > [I didn't really seek attention. I just wanted to play the game well and go home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kareem-abdul-jabbar/i-didn-t-really-seek-attention-i-just-wanted-to-play-the-game-well/) [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kareem-abdul-jabbar/) > [You don't have to show off your body just to look good, or drink & burn just to get attention. Just be yourself, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tati-kaniaupio/you-don-t-have-to-show-off-your-body-just-to-look-good-or-drink-burn/) [Tati Kaniaupio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tati-kaniaupio/) > [When you can't get their attention, you just have to stop giving them yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-can-t-get-their-attention-you-just-have-to-stop-giving-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Ford, the promise of your full sexual attention is just about the highlight of my life right now, why pretend?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-huss/ford-the-promise-of-your-full-sexual-attention-is-just-about-the/) [J.A. Huss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-huss/) > [The first thing that happens is that you're overwhelmed by so much attention. It's just so unnatural. Only people who've been in that position…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chevy-chase/the-first-thing-that-happens-is-that-you-re-overwhelmed-by-so-much/) [Chevy Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chevy-chase/) ## More by Patience > [A real boyfriend can see the pain behind a girls smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/a-real-boyfriend-can-see-the-pain-behind-a-girls-smile/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience/) > [Evertime I close my eyes it doesnt matter where, I always see you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/evertime-i-close-my-eyes-it-doesnt-matter-where-i-always-see-you/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience/) > [Shes talking to angels counting the stars, making a wish on a passing car dancing with strangers falling apart waiting for superman to pick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/shes-talking-to-angels-counting-the-stars-making-a-wish-on-a-passing/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience/) > [I just dont know why people stalk. like forreal why? it's a big waste of your time! and plus its called cyberstalking. which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/i-just-dont-know-why-people-stalk-like-forreal-why-it-s-a-big-waste/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience/) > [Smile so they think you're fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/smile-so-they-think-you-re-fine/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience/) > [And now the darkness got her, and theres not way out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/and-now-the-darkness-got-her-and-theres-not-way-out/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience/) > [Ya know itt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/ya-know-itt/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience/) > [Im sorry if I hurt you, but you hurt me even more by breaking my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/im-sorry-if-i-hurt-you-but-you-hurt-me-even-more-by-breaking-my-heart/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience/) > [I know they say, that no one is perfect, but I swear she's perfect for me And that makes it so much harder to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/i-know-they-say-that-no-one-is-perfect-but-i-swear-she-s-perfect-for/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience/) > [She was waiting for me too get up todayy! she was staring from her vcage right at me<3 ^\_^](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/she-was-waiting-for-me-too-get-up-todayy-she-was-staring-from-her/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience/) > [LETS GO BRONCOS!!!!! < 33333](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/lets-go-broncos-33333/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience/) > [Truth is, I miss you. all the time, every second, every minute, every hour, every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/truth-is-i-miss-you-all-the-time-every-second-every-minute-every-hour/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience/) > [We all know one C:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/we-all-know-one-c/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience/) > [And it's obvious that you're dying, dying Just living proof that the camera's lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/and-it-s-obvious-that-you-re-dying-dying-just-living-proof-that-the/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience/) > [Its not a suprise I wont be here tommorrow, I cant believe that I stayed till today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/its-not-a-suprise-i-wont-be-here-tommorrow-i-cant-believe-that-i/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience/) [Explore all 816 Patience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If self harm was for attention, we'd be doing it in front of your face. 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