Cutting: Is it REALLY Addictive???

[Wiltedrose2394]

I know what everyone says; that cutting is addictive, because it releases endorphins, blah blah blah, some other scientific shit.

But is it really??? I mean, when I do it, it doesn't feel addictive. It does hurt, and it isn't really a relief (that might not make sense to some..... I do it because it feels right to hurt myself. I deserve punishment. Its not a relief rather.... A message to myself and others??? IDK). In fact, if anything, it is very emotionally exhausting (but I still don't stop, no matter how much it disrupts my life. Masochist much??? :P lol). I don't just mean later on when you feel guilty; I mean while I'm doing it. I know what I do is wrong, and that harming myself is dangerous. I use as much self restraint as I can; but that just makes it all the worse later on.
(I cut because I feel guilty and deserving=more guilt for doing it=more cutting because I feel guilty. Ironic isn't it :P)

So is it addictive in every case???

[TeddyBearRock]

Not for me, if it was addictive i would have had trouble stopping

[Noxail]

I know what everyone says; that cutting is addictive, because it releases endorphins, blah blah blah, some other scientific shit.

But is it really??? I mean, when I do it, it doesn't feel addictive. It does hurt, and it isn't really a relief. In fact, if anything, it is very emotionally painful. I don't just mean later on when you feel guilty; I mean while I'm doing it.

So is it addictive in every case???

Yes, it can be very very addictive and one can come to rely on it strongly. And the question in bold? Well, if you cut, but your not addicted, one can only assume that no, it's not addictive in every case. Stay Smart ~Holli

[Fractured Silhouette]

I'm not sure about other people. But I believe it is definitely addictive. Maybe, like everything else it varies from person to person?

If it's not a relief, why do you do it? Do you want to stop? Have you tried to stop before?

I'm sure if you ask most people who cut, you'll find that it is quite difficult to stop. If you haven't tried stopping, try now, if you can't your probably addicted. If you can, then yes, you should. It'll stop you feeling guilty about it and probably make you feel better.

[Wiltedrose2394]

I'm not sure about other people. But I believe it is definitely addictive. Maybe, like everything else it varies from person to person?

If it's not a relief, why do you do it? Do you want to stop? Have you tried to stop before?

I'm sure if you ask most people who cut, you'll find that it is quite difficult to stop. If you haven't tried stopping, try now, if you can't your probably addicted. If you can, then yes, you should. It'll stop you feeling guilty about it and probably make you feel better.
Well, it's complicated; I don't feel like it's an addiction. I have been addicted to morphine when I was bedridden a few years ago, and this doesn't feel the same as that. I did stop for a few months; but I started again a few weeks ago. I'm just so confused; I hate the knowledge that I may be addicted to something. (Because I have a naturally strong, shy, quiet lone wolf personality. It makes it damn near impossible to ever ask when I need help, and I tend to take on the weight of the world. My grandma was the same way; Damn genetics ;P)

Anyways, I am just curious. (Don't they say admitting it is the first step?)

I just wonder because I'm the kind of person who likes to define things and set clear boundaries before I correct a problem. It may seem a little obsessive, but I can't help wanting to know. (That's right- if there's something wrong with my head, I wanna know what it is dammit! LOL)

Any feedback to this random question would be boss, dudes!

[Desuetude]

Yes accepting that you might have a problem is always the first step, denial will get you no where.
I'm not sure about other people. But I believe it is definitely addictive. Maybe, like everything else it varies from person to person?
That's my view as well.
It all depends on the person and maybe the reasons they do it. I mean some go away over time or get better so that may have some effect on things?

In all honesty if you can do without then I wouldn't risk testing to see if it's addictive because in most senarioes when people cut even though they know the consequences they carry on anyway thinking that for some reason they might not apply to them.
I guess everyone needs to make their own mistakes to learn from them but if you know you're walking into a danger zone you don't carry on walking. You turn back, right?

[Fractured Silhouette]

Well, it's complicated; I don't feel like it's an addiction. I have been addicted to morphine when I was bedridden a few years ago, and this doesn't feel the same as that. I did stop for a few months; but I started again a few weeks ago. I'm just so confused; I hate the knowledge that I may be addicted to something. (Because I have a naturally strong, shy, quiet lone wolf personality. It makes it damn near impossible to ever ask when I need help, and I tend to take on the weight of the world. My grandma was the same way; Damn genetics ;P)

Anyways, I am just curious. (Don't they say admitting it is the first step?)

I just wonder because I'm the kind of person who likes to define things and set clear boundaries before I correct a problem. It may seem a little obsessive, but I can't help wanting to know. (That's right- if there's something wrong with my head, I wanna know what it is dammit! LOL)

Any feedback to this random question would be boss, dudes!

I suppose it's quite hard to know if your addicted to something. I suppose, you know your addicted, when you stop, you start to want to do it again. Even if you know it's a bad idea. Once again, it probably varies from person to person.

It's good that you want to set boundaries. And you know it's a problem, which is also a good thing. I suppose the logical thing to do if you want to stop is try to stop. If your really desperate to know what's wrong, try to ask for help. Even if it seems impossible, I guess you'll never know until you try.

Good Luck.

I guess everyone needs to make their own mistakes to learn from them but if you know you're walking into a danger zone you don't carry on walking. You turn back, right?

Well, atleast according to logic.

[Bath]

I mean, when I do it, it doesn't feel addictive. It does hurt, and it isn't really a relief. In fact, if anything, it is very emotionally painful.

Then don't do it.

Experiences vary. Because of different personalities, certain people handle situations in different ways. You're aware that physical pain does not replace emotional pain for you, so I suggest you don't even experiment with it further. I suggest this to anybody anyway, but it's very obvious that you have more control over this than most people. In most cases, the first time cutting IS a relief, that's why it's continued (not in EVERY case, but most.)

Nothing is black and white. Cutting is not addictive for everyone.

[Carly011]

It is definitely addictive in a lot of cases....i would not do it if i felt i could stop or didnt need it. I HATE doing this to myself....but i have no idea to handle my emotional pain any other way. When i am really upset and i cut it feels like all the pain goes out of my wound...i calm down right away. the cutting doesn't hurt while i am upset, after it does. I know i should stop, but i cant do that till i find other ways to handle my pain.

If i wasn't addicted and dependent i would stop in an instant.... i hate the scars all over my body. I am ashamed that i cut. you really should stop if your not addicted/dependent on it.

[kenoloor]

For me, it certainly was addicting. The first time I struggled with self-harm back in '10, my mom found out and took away all my razors; I didn't have anything to cut with (my mother is a thorough woman), and as a result of stopping cold turkey, I went through some serious withdrawal (some paranoia, clawing at my skin, etc.). My second go-round with cutting (started Nov. of '11, and ongoing) certainly wouldn't be happening if I weren't addicted to it. It functions just like a drug addiction for me.

Now, of course, that's for me, and it undoubtedly varies from person to person. However I do think that more people find it addictive than those who don't.

[Love.Hate]

To me the more you do it the more addictive it becomes, i am most certainly addicted to it and its such a struggle to stop.

Its always easier to quit at the start of doing it because you dont get yourself trapped in coping with everything in this way, however some people have a predisposition to addictive personalities, so it could just be that?

Im not overly sure why some people get addicted and others dont

[Mortal Coil]

I guess it varies from person to person.
I find it addictive, but if you don't then it's not addictive to you. Simple as that.

[TheDeepestDepths]

I felt the same way as you. I had problems that I found very difficult to deal with. So I cut and the relief I felt was huge - it was worth the guilt.

But I felt guilty because I didn't have to do it. I cut because it was an easy way to deal with my problems not because it was an addiction. While I was doing it I knew I could stop whenever I wanted, my problem was that I didn't want to. Cutting was quick and easy but as time went on I started to realize that it wasn't worth it. I made a mistake one time and the razor I used was much sharper than I was used to and cut far deeper into my wrist than I was supposed to. I promised myself that I wouldn't do it again if only it would stop bleeding and I've kept that promise since.

I hated cutting but I felt as though it was my only way of dealing - I didn't have to do it, it was just easier. I'm not the naturally happy person I was before cutting, it certainly affected me but because of it I've found other ways of dealing with my problems.

Cutting (whether addictive or not) is your way of dealing and that's okay. Anyone who cares for you won't judge you for it.

[Fiction]

Put it this way, i've found it easier to stop smoking than cutting. It is most definately addictive. Not in every case obviously, but to me it has been. I've been cutting well over 2 years now and i genuinely don't think I will ever stop.

[iallen]

i dont find it addicting but when i lose myself i will sometimes do it or have the will to stop

[FullyAlive]

Personally I just think some people get more easily addicted in general than others to any behaviour or substance.

I know I'm addicted, I get physical side effects when I don't. You've said you don't feel like it's addictive. However this doesn't mean you don't have an addiction try going without for a week and you'll see whether or not you're addicted.

[CherryQ]

I cut for the same reason you do. Because I hate myself and want to punish myself because I deserve it for screwing everything up. But at the same time I find it somewhat calming, or at the very least distracting. I'm not sure I'm exactly addicted either. . . but I do feel like I need it somehow. Like if I didn't, what would I do with myself, you know?

[Jupiter]

Just like any other disease.. it varies. For example, drinking, or smoking. It could be easy to quit, or simple.

[Truth]

It's very addicting and I'd honestly say every person who's replied to this thread trying to say that they aren't addicted... is an addict. If it's not addictive, you would not still cut yourself. It just wouldn't work that way.

Usually, it depends on the person. If you're emotional, it's going to be addicting. Personally I just enjoyed the feeling, so quitting is one of the easiest tasks presented to me. I decided it did more harm than good and stopped permanently when I was 14.