Not that big a deal?

[Haunted]

To start off I'm just gonna say I don't want to offend anyone that is not my intention. Please don't misinterpret me. This is entirely just a thought I had based on my own experience.

Do you think maybe we just make cutting a big deal when it's really not? Because I don't cut when I'm busy or don't think about it. If I occupy my time with things I enjoy I don't cut. Do we sometimes over complicate the matter? What do y'all think?

[Noxail]

Well, although I see and respect your point, I do not fell that way at all. For some people, it's easy to control their cutting habits, and the way they feel by simply changing the way they see things, or react to things. For others, SH is an addiction, and in reverse to the mentioned person, It takes control of their life. I know personally, If I do not SH at some point of the day, be it biting, or scratching, or cutting, all I can think of is burying a razor in my hand. For others, like you, it's as simple as avoiding things that make then angry.

My point here is that not all people feel, think, and act the way you do. And not everyone that cuts, cuts with the same level of control. So naturally, those who have a bigger issue with their cutting, need to express the lower level of control they have, or lack thereof, which may seem extreme, or overexpressive to someone who has perfect control, or someone who does not cut.

On the topic of warning people; cutting is nothing to fool with, and although it does not always lead to suicidal thoughts or feelings, death is always a very big risk. It is terribly easy to sneeze, or slip, and cut far deeper than normal, slicing a vein. Those who have the worst stories, make the best people to talk to when consitering cutting, and one can never stress enough how cutting can ruin your life. One warning, may mean the difference between life and death for someone thinking about cutting themselves for the first time. In short, although you don't feel as extremely as some of us who have no control, it doesn't mean we are making a bigger deal out of it than it is. Because cutting is a very, very big deal. ~holli

[Mortal Coil]

it's really not?

Perhaps it isn't a big deal to you personally, but for others it forces them to live in a constant state of shame. It makes us lie to those we swore to be honest with. Self harm has resulted in deaths, infections, permanent scars. It's a money vacuum, because people either need to go to the ER and get serious wounds treated, or we have to buy things like surgical tape, betadine and butterfly closers at the pharmacy.

I think that the extra stigma attached to it is unfair, but I would never say that is is not a big deal.

[xXoblivionXx]

It depends, and each person is different so you can't really say it isn't a big deal in general because it may be for someone. I have been in a situation where I don't have time to cope with my feelings or I can't cope with my feelings at a certain place so it's easier at times to just slip away to a bathroom cut and move on. It's not a healthy way but it happens.

[Haunted]

I probably could've worded my original post better...

I do believe that cutting is a big deal and anyone that does it needs help with whatever issue causes them to cut. I think sometimes maybe we just tend to narrow our sight and focus in on ourselves and the pain but maybe if we took a step back and looked around us we could find a way to stop the pain. But then again I remember a time in my life where there wasn't really anything I could do to help my situation.

I don't know.

So yeah, I'd agree everyone has different levels of control that give selfharm different levels of significance and that level varies from person to person because we all are different. Y'all are right. Let's just leave it at that(: