how and why do people cut themselves?

[Caelum]

i just cannot imigine cutting myself know how much emotional, how and why do people do it? not to say i dont have problems myself, cause when i get extremely angry i have lost control quite a few times and when i did i just lost my sense of pain and went on a rampage and a punching spree, i damaged a few walls in my house and yes my fists were bleeding (i have only done this twice i usually am very good at controlling my anger) but i just cant imagine just sitting there cutting myself.

[FullyAlive]

If you can't imagine it that's probably a good thing, hopefully that means you'd never start.

There's so many different reasons for someone to cut. They feel they deserve it, they feel numb, they want to distract themselves from the emotional pain. It all depends on the particular person and the situation they are in.

However whilst you say you can't imagine doing that, you're way of controlling your anger really doesn't sound very healthy and I'd keep an eye on that if I were you

[amscramhick]

If you can't imagine it that's probably a good thing, hopefully that means you'd never start.
Yes this is true, and it probably is a good thing. But some people, it's just a way of coping. I used to cut. Seeing the blood seeping from my skin and the rush and the sting helped as a temporary I guess you'd say "fix" for my depressed and suicidal thoughts. People do it because they are depressed, they feel sad, unwanted, angry, or just confused about the world. No it's not a healthy method to cope with your problems but once you start it becomes an addiction. And plus for many people it feels that is the only thing they can do to make themselves feel better. It's a kind of a release.

[Fiction]

Why someone could cut themselves is not a question that can easily be asked, i've been a cutter for almost 2 years and I barely understand myself.

As FullyAlive said, it can be several reasons.

Sometimes feeling physical pain is better than feeling mental pain, or numbness. I know that sometimes for me it becomes a distraction from things going on in my head. Others way it is almost like taking out my anger at myself, as though I deserve it.

It soon becomes addictive and it becomes your natural reaction to any kind of mental pain. There's evidence that it releases endorphins that lead to it becoming addictive.

It's something I strongly recommend you never try.

[Caelum]

Why someone could cut themselves is not a question that can easily be asked, i've been a cutter for almost 2 years and I barely understand myself.

As FullyAlive said, it can be several reasons.

Sometimes feeling physical pain is better than feeling mental pain, or numbness. I know that sometimes for me it becomes a distraction from things going on in my head. Others way it is almost like taking out my anger at myself, as though I deserve it.

It soon becomes addictive and it becomes your natural reaction to any kind of mental pain. There's evidence that it releases endorphins that lead to it becoming addictive.

It's something I strongly recommend you never try.

no never will i cut myself i have a very low level of pain tolerance.

[RustyRockets]

My reasons for self-harming are three-fold and totally contradictory.

I like the sense of self-punishment; as in I'm physically making up for all the bad things that are within me. My imperfections, my ignorance, my anger and hate and laziness and everything else bad about me is kind of paid for by hurting myself.

Secondly, its about being nice to myself. Many people who self-harm have maybe been neglected or under-nourished in some way. If my arm is in pieces and bleeding etc, it forces me to disinfect it, bandage it, strap it up, rest and take it easy for a while. It gives me an excuse to nurture and care for myself when normally I wouldn't.

Finally it gives me a sense of control when everything around me in the world is out of my hands. I can't turn back time or change peoples' minds, but I can control myself in a very visceral and real way. That is quite calming to me.

I'm welling up now because I don't often think about why I do it, its just natural. I don't know why you would ask this question, but thank you. I hope it's logical enough that you understand now, and stupid enough that you know never ever to get mixed up in it.

:) Rus

[UnknownError]

Because when you really fucking hate yourself these things happen.

Or another one, wanting to harm someone else but you can't so you do it too yourself.

Two of my "reasons".

[Caelum]

My reasons for self-harming are three-fold and totally contradictory.

I like the sense of self-punishment; as in I'm physically making up for all the bad things that are within me. My imperfections, my ignorance, my anger and hate and laziness and everything else bad about me is kind of paid for by hurting myself.

Secondly, its about being nice to myself. Many people who self-harm have maybe been neglected or under-nourished in some way. If my arm is in pieces and bleeding etc, it forces me to disinfect it, bandage it, strap it up, rest and take it easy for a while. It gives me an excuse to nurture and care for myself when normally I wouldn't.

Finally it gives me a sense of control when everything around me in the world is out of my hands. I can't turn back time or change peoples' minds, but I can control myself in a very visceral and real way. That is quite calming to me.

I'm welling up now because I don't often think about why I do it, its just natural. I don't know why you would ask this question, but thank you. I hope it's logical enough that you understand now, and stupid enough that you know never ever to get mixed up in it.

:) Rus

you should probably think about your reasons and look within yourself. and yeah you should probably stop doing it, i doubt its very healthy.

[RustyRockets]

It's not healthy, it's not smart but it's a part of my life. Hopefully you understand the answer to your question now anyway

[Thelizardqueen]

I think mainly people do it just because when you don't know what else to do, it's like a go-to solution, so that you don't feel like you're doing nothing, and you trick yourself to think it's helping. Don't ever start, because it'll get worse and it's harder to stop than you think.
I've cut for over two years now, I do it for the punishment...it's like the only way I can live with myself. It's like all I can do to make up for not being good enough for friends, or screwing things up, and usually when I'm unhappy or someone else is, I can find a way to trace it back to me screwing up or just not being good enough. It's never enough though, I always feel bad that I didn't find a way to go deeper or cut more or that it's not hurting enough.