why do people cut?

[irishmaniac2000]

I'm not being mean or anything. i understand most people that do are having trouble with some things. i just want to know what they think it helps

[numbness]

It helps me because its something I can control and its a release from whatever is going on. I don't feel the pain,its just an automatic coping strategy its not really something I can explain I find it difficult but that's the best I can do

[1_21Guns]

For some it's a release of anger or hurt, or to feel the mental pain you're in released somehow, and for others it's a form of punishment, mess something up, hurt yourself, fail something, hurt yourself etc, it's a control thing to help people deal with feeling like they have no control, of course in reality it's not helpful at all, it just leaves you with often nasty scars and an addiction that's hard to quit, but at the time those few minutes of bliss feel like they're worth it, so I guess that's why

[irishmaniac2000]

Also, do girls break mentally or what? I've noticed more girls doing it then boys

[1_21Guns]

that's a strong misconception, boys just aren't as open about it, the figures might be slightly more female sided, but a lot of boys do self harm, it's just they won't talk about it because it would be considered weak

[irishmaniac2000]

Weak? Actually i know a lot of guys that see who can inflict the most pain on themselves as an act of strength.

[Pacaveli]

I had never cut and I will never cut, but I do feel bad for people that do. When I get depressed or mad I either listen to music or just let my anger come out to the object/thing/person that made me like that.

[irishmaniac2000]

Simple enough

[1_21Guns]

Weak? Actually i know a lot of guys that see who can inflict the most pain on themselves as an act of strength.

I've never known someone self harm out of an act of depression or otherwise to prove they're 'strong'

[irishmaniac2000]

You've never seen guys test each other by seeing who can rub an eraser on their wrist til its raw or seeing who can last the longest with the salt and ice challenge? Its stupid but it happens all the time

[uglyinsideandout]

For some it's a release of anger or hurt, or to feel the mental pain you're in released somehow, and for others it's a form of punishment, mess something up, hurt yourself, fail something, hurt yourself etc, it's a control thing to help people deal with feeling like they have no control, of course in reality it's not helpful at all, it just leaves you with often nasty scars and an addiction that's hard to quit, but at the time those few minutes of bliss feel like they're worth it, so I guess that's why

This. All of this.

[1_21Guns]

You've never seen guys test each other by seeing who can rub an eraser on their wrist til its raw or seeing who can last the longest with the salt and ice challenge? Its stupid but it happens all the time

ah yeah you've meant that stuff, that's not really self harm in the sense I see it, that's more doing something dumb hoping to get credit for it :P

[uglyinsideandout]

You've never seen guys test each other by seeing who can rub an eraser on their wrist til its raw or seeing who can last the longest with the salt and ice challenge? Its stupid but it happens all the time

That's not self harm, that's stupidity. Self harm isn't about proving anything to somebody else. For me and I'd imagine most people it's a very private thing. Us weak girls don't have cutting parties. It's an intensly personal experience that I don't think I could share with anyone else and I take alot of steps to make sure no one finds out. Compare that with the examples you gave, they want everyone to know how "badass" they are.

[irishmaniac2000]

Im not here to offend anyone... I'm sorry you feel this way

[uglyinsideandout]

Not sure if this is addressed to me or not, but if I sound cranky it's probably a combination of being in terrible pain, can't eat, and having one of my problems discussed as if it's a trivial thing. I think a little more sensitivity would have gone a long way, afterall look what section of the forum you're in.

[1_21Guns]

I really don't feel like there's a need to snipe at people Nicolette, misconceptions about self harm are very widespread, and in a technical sense what those people do is self harm, it's deliberately injuring themselves, it's just not through an act of depression or any other mental disorder, I don't think he was discussing it as a trivial anything, there's just fine lines and different classifications of what people call 'self harm'

[irishmaniac2000]

I'm so sorry i came across that way. i really want to help if there is any way i can. i read it over and i see what you mean. i jusr kinda barged in and said "hey what's the deal?" Im sorry

[uglyinsideandout]

I don't think he was discussing it as a trivial anything

I guess we just see things differently.

*deleted the long ramble about how I believe cutting is the only reason I'm still alive and yet it's still something I'm supposed to be ashamed of and how it doesn't compare to boys doing macho jock stuff to impress each other*

[irishmaniac2000]

I don't recall suggesting it as a "bad thing"

[Harley Quinn]

Stay on topic and don't let it get out of hand. This is your first and only warning.

[uglyinsideandout]

I don't recall suggesting it as a "bad thing"

No, just a weak thing.

[irishmaniac2000]

I don't recall that either :( I'm not here to go all stereotypical on you. I'm not going to preach about hpw you shouldn't do this and blah blah blah. if anything I'm here to learn about it so i can have a better understanding

[Harley Quinn]

Personally, I cut/used to cut/kinda cut because it was a way of dealing with all the negative emotions I was feeling. It may have been about myself, or because I just couldn't deal with emotions at all. I hate emotions, I don't know how to feel them and for me, cutting allowed me to express the pain and anger I was feeling. While cutting wasn't the only self harm I took part in, it was the main form I did use. It helped me a lot and while I think of it, yes it's fucking ridiculous that it got to that point but I didn't know how to control it. It's saved me from killing myself, I didn't cut because I was suicidal, I cut because I didn't want to die and it helped release the emotions I was feeling. Self harm is a very personal thing, I felt ridiculously weak cutting, I did. But, it was a coping mechanism all the same.

Read this, it may help you. (http://www.virtualteen.org/forums/showthread.php?t=73510)

[King_of_Hearts]

When I cut I felt extremly weak. But it released some of the emotions and energies my body could not handle any longer. I bottled every emotion up for 7 years and them it needed to get out. So I turned to cutting to release them.

[Ballboy]

This. All of this.

For some it's a release of anger or hurt, or to feel the mental pain you're in released somehow, and for others it's a form of punishment, mess something up, hurt yourself, fail something, hurt yourself etc, it's a control thing to help people deal with feeling like they have no control, of course in reality it's not helpful at all, it just leaves you with often nasty scars and an addiction that's hard to quit, but at the time those few minutes of bliss feel like they're worth it, so I guess that's why

I think I get this -- to some extent. Never having been there, I'm prolly never going to get it completely but I wanna understand.

[1_21Guns]

I think I get this -- to some extent. Never having been there, I'm prolly never going to get it completely but I wanna understand.

Unfortunately to fully understand you have to have been there, but of course in no way, shape or form (and I'm not saying you would) should you try it for any reason, it's not worth it at all

[Imaustinigeuss]

ive tried to cut/am and idk I just want pain that sounds weird but its true

[handle with care]

i never cut but i burn and other things and i do it when i'm having negative emotions like anger or guilt because i feel better when i self harm. i am actually the only person i know who is open about it if someone i know sees my marks i don't lie because when i lie i feel bad. if its a stranger i might lie to avoid being called crazy. its not just a girls thing both us guys and girls self harm.

[Obsidian]

I used to cut myself because I liked the thought that it was pain I could control. I was really depressed and felt like I couldn't control my negative emotions. So I guess finally being able to control the pain I felt calmed me down and gave me a sense of relief.

[teen.jpg]

You've never seen guys test each other by seeing who can rub an eraser on their wrist til its raw or seeing who can last the longest with the salt and ice challenge? Its stupid but it happens all the time

That's nowhere near what cutting is.

----------------

I never self-harmed, but I used to consider doing so. I'm glad I never started.

It's just a way some people deal with things. It's not the best way, but that's what they choose to do.

[suicidalbutter]

For me:

I cut to make the flashbacks of my past go away. The cutting makes me focus on the physical pain which in return numbs the mental anguish I feel. Cutting became addicting after I realized it made the thoughts stop. MY personal opinion is that it's like any other addiction. It feels like the right thing to do after doing it repeatedly for the same effect as the last time. Like a drug, I look for the same high as the last time I did it. I harm more and more every time. Every cut is another moment I'm not thinking about my dysfunctional family or the trauma I went through as a child. I've cut for years knowing that it was the only thing that was making the flashbacks stop from coming so rapidly.

And like any other addiction it is also hard to stop. Even when I do stop for a long period of time (to each their own definition of "long period", for me a month is a long time) I still relapse from time to time.

[Animelover16]

because for some reasons,i feel much relief for a short period of time....but to other guys there..please live your life to the fullest!! don't ruin your life like what i did....

[Yugen]

I cut to feel something different, to put it simply.

[Mob Boss]

Everyone has different reasons. Some may be petty, others serious, either way it is what it is and it doesn't make someone weak. We can only help those that do it get through it.

[Hermes96]

some have real problems and need help others want attention because they are attention seekers

[uglyinsideandout]

gjwgYvzQWS4

Almost every word in this song feels like me. I'm not sure it makes me feel any better that someone else has felt this way.

[lostnthemusic]

I cut becouse the physical pain takes me away from all the emotional pain. Im trying to stop i dont think i will though its to hard its a part of me now.

[Syvelocin]

Even now, the thing I miss most is probably the reason I did it: the blood.

Little triggering maybe; I'm a bad judge of that since I'm insensitive to potentially triggering content.

There's also the endorphins, but I go for a brisk walk or have sex when I want those. And pain. When it's purposeful pain, I think it feels good. The self-harm, tattoos, biting your nails to the quick. I hate stubbing my toes though, lol. There's no way for me to get the blood fix without self-harming. I don't know what it is about blood, but whenever the blood started to surface I'd get this instant wave of comfort. My tears would stop instantly, and if they didn't that's when I needed to be worried because I would go deeper. Even now, whenever I see my blood I feel that exact feeling, regardless of the mood I'm in. I honestly don't know why, what science is potentially behind that. I find blood to have that sort of transfixing beauty you see in attractive women or sunsets. But only my own, not the blood of others.

The other thing I remember looking back was there was a drive to go deeper only because I saw how big or deep your scars are as a measure of how fucked up you are (and that being fucked up is a desirable thing), when that's not the case really. I hated that I didn't have the courage to go deeper, but when you do achieve that courage it's a really dangerous thing.

[Versae]

When you get really depressed, there comes this time that you'll get to feel really numb like you don't have energy to do anything you don't want to talk to anyone and all you did was to lay in your bed and just sleep and when you woke up, you'll drink something to make you feel dizzy so you'll sleep again. And when the right time came that you feel really worthless because you don't do anything, you'll find ways to feel something and this is it. Harming yourself. I've been there and i've done this. For me it's an escape of being numb. To feel that you're still alive and hurting. Away from all the numbness that your emotional pain put you through.

[Kaytlin]

Release of pain, stress, not stating, absence of mom, lack of sleep, etc.

[roadwarrior]

They are cutting because of their problem like depression, etc.

[numbness]

gjwgYvzQWS4

Almost every word in this song feels like me. I'm not sure it makes me feel any better that someone else has felt this way.

I just listened to this and its just completely right

[Propane Accessories]

For me, its trading physical pain for emotional pain

[Living For Love]

For me, its trading physical pain for emotional pain

But how does that happen? You feel less emotional pain when you cut yourself?

[uglyinsideandout]

But how does that happen? You feel less emotional pain when you cut yourself?

Yes.

[Propane Accessories]

For a short time, yes

[James Bond]

It feels good for some, helps release stress for others, or maybe it's just a habit.

[Luminous]

I self harmed a total of one time. I was feeling so horrible and like all of my feelings were inside of me and I could get them out one of two ways: scream bloody murder or cut myself. I don't really know what it is about cutting. It's like burning something into your skin. You can keep it there forever.