Everyone is different and this is a quite complex topic. I don't think self-harming and a need for spanking necessarily have to be interrelated. I also have a history of self-harming that started at age 11 and I consider it to be self-destructive whereas I don't consider spanking self-destructive at all. Obviously that only applies when the spanking is done in a both consensual and safe way. Personally, I think one major difference between the two is the fact that spanking generally involves another person (the spanker) who, ideally, is interested in my well-being which makes me feel safe and