[p_ing]

> I’ve always thought that deliberate, controlled suffering gives you a mood boost.

That's not an alternate "theory".

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/theres-scientific-...

> People who self-harm, writes Arnold, have “learned that, while the pain peaks with self-injury, it then comes down the other side. The physical pain lessens – as does the emotional pain.”

People don't self-harm because it hurts. They self-harm because it _feels good_. Pain is "pleasure", for lack of a better phrase.

[jcims]

I was a hobby beekeeper for a few years and grew to enjoy getting stung. It still hurts like hell at first but the ride down is lovely.

Spicy foods might be another example.

[codr7]

There's also the not so constructive tendency to punish the body for what the brain comes up with and the feelings that come with it. It's really the only part of yourself you can harm.

[vdjskshi]

Most of them self harm because the removal the pain feels good - and it takes with it some emotional pain.

Though there probably are some masochists that truly enjoy the pain, but that's a different condition than the more common I-hate-myself-so-I-hurt-myself.

[p_ing]

> removal the pain feels good

Not quite. The pain causes an endorphin release. It's also addictive (not technically by the DSM sense, but those who do will often call it as such) and has been compared to heroin.