So how bad is bad? How deep is deep?

[Njathind]

I keep reading about how people cut deep and how self harm can get out of control, a friend recently caught me getting out the shower and well, they saw the lot.

They said it was out of controle and said I shouldn't go so deep, I honestly dont see it as that bigger deal.

What I would like to know is what would you call deep? And how would you describe self harm as being out of control?

[Syvelocin]

Honestly, I say how long it takes to get the bleeding to stop and how much it scars. And if it needs stitches. While in the lower points in self-harming, I've taken regular trips to the clinic to get cuts sewn up. It's concerning in general regardless of the severity of the wounds, but when you can't get the bleeding to stop you know you've got a big problem.

[Njathind]

Well usually they take a couple of days to stop, and they have left deep purple scars. I have never really thought it as being bad enought to need stiches, I usually just run around for a few days with tissue wrapped round a taped onto my limbs.

I know once I did my wrist and, well I watched it flow like a river. Just packed down the tissue and prayed to god I didnt pass out again.

[Syvelocin]

A general rule for stitches is if you've cut deep enough, past the skin layers, to see the yellowish fat layer underneath.

[Njathind]

A general rule for stitches is if you've cut deep enough, past the skin layers, to see the yellowish fat layer underneath.

That helps a lot, thankyou :hug:

So If I see orange spots its time to stitch it up?

[Alexithymia]

Wait... That's how deep I like to cut. I cut deep? I thought that wasn't severe or out of control at all.

On a side note, if it takes a few days to stop the bleeding then it's normally bad.

[Ambrosia]

It normally takes me a day or two to stop the bleeding completely(They open often just from barely moving my arms). I always tape gauze on really hard to make sure it stops. Too deep to me is when the bleeding is quick and the cut is wider then my blade by a LOT.

[StandUpAndScream]

Well the longest it takes most of my cuts to stop bleeding is an hour.. and i've cut very deep one time, and that took nearly 3 hour to stop, i actually got scared that i was gonna bleed to death..
but if you see the layer of fat then its stitch time.

[Mike321]

generally mine can take anywhere from 15 mins to like 40 mins to stop, depends how deep I go. But like the others have said, if it needs stitches its probably too deep.
Hope this helps

[georgiamay]

I'm normally a cut shallow, so it takes about 30 minutes to stop. But every now and then I cut "deep" and use steri strips or something like that, and that takes a few days to stop bleeding. It's a pain in the arse when that happens. Regular trips to the bathroom at school to make sure it's not bleeding too much. >.< annoying.

I think if it's deeper than you normally go, and you don't think you'll be able to control the bleeding, that's when it's "too deep", and maybe that would be the time to go to hospital.

[Fiction]

Mine generally don't take too long to stop bleeding so it seems... They only just bleed enough to drip off my arm... if that makes sense.
30 minutes at max? They sometimes reopen within the next few hours and bleed again though.