Cutting and Self-mutilation

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silvephantom

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I was just wondering, does anyone here ever cut themselves? I'm not going to rant and preach if you post, and I'm sure others won't try and get in your head and make you stop. It's something you can't really. Just wondrin'.
 
I've been cutting for a year now, and recently tried to stop...


Though it's hard. Really. i'm not going for a pity vote here, it's just people feel so alone on this when really it's a nation wide epidemic.
 
I've tried to cut myself and stuff and have a couple times but Not really big on it just when i get too down but i have some great friends who have stopped me when i got to that level
 
silvephantom - It's good you're trying to stop. I'm proud of you.

I, myself, have a hard time understanding why people cut themselves. I'm not talking down to anyone who does or trying to poke fun at them anyhow, but I just don't understand. Most people cut themselves because they have so much emotional pain and they want to take their minds off it, right? I don't see how cutting yourself helps that at all. Once the pain of whatever damage did to yourself goes away, the problem you cut yourself for in the first place will be there. And not only do you have your original problem, but now you have a mental disorder that you think it's ok to harm yourself. I think cutting yourself makes your problems better, not worse.

I have a friend who cuts herself, although I feel she just does it for attention because she lets people know right away when she does it. Don't cutters usually want to keep it a secret from people? ANyway, she was 141 days free and she did it again over starting the new school year.

If any self mutilators have any useful information or comments about why they do it than I would honestly like to hear you. I wanna be a social worker when I grow up and depending on what field I choose, I might have to deal with cutters one day. I'd find it really interesting to talk to someone who does and carry on the information with me to a later date.
 
silvephantom said:
I was just wondering, does anyone here ever cut themselves? I'm not going to rant and preach if you post, and I'm sure others won't try and get in your head and make you stop. It's something you can't really. Just wondrin'.
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Been there, done that.
 
Hero said:
silvephantom - It's good you're trying to stop. I'm proud of you.

I, myself, have a hard time understanding why people cut themselves. I'm not talking down to anyone who does or trying to poke fun at them anyhow, but I just don't understand. Most people cut themselves because they have so much emotional pain and they want to take their minds off it, right? I don't see how cutting yourself helps that at all. Once the pain of whatever damage did to yourself goes away, the problem you cut yourself for in the first place will be there. And not only do you have your original problem, but now you have a mental disorder that you think it's ok to harm yourself. I think cutting yourself makes your problems better, not worse.
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I agree with you there. It's a mental disorder, not necissarily like ADD or Tourettes or OCD. It's like anorexia, in some ways, and not at all like others. Complex, very. I am absolutely ashamed with myself that I actually lowered myself down to this level, and I did those things. It's just when you are cutting yourself, in the moment, you think nothing of the reprocussions. It's about andings one pain, thouh causing another, but for that one moment, it's like a high. Just that moment in which you're doing this, everything is right. Then even more pain comes and your left in a pit of darkness, depression, and self loathing. And that makes it worse.At least, that's me.

I have a friend who cuts herself, although I feel she just does it for attention because she lets people know right away when she does it. Don't cutters usually want to keep it a secret from people? ANyway, she was 141 days free and she did it again over starting the new school year.
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Alot of the time, people who announce to everyone that they cut means they are looking for attention. Sometimes, though, it;s because they're not getting enough attention. I wouldn't really know. I don't do it for attention, and only my cousin and best friend know. I'm posting here now because I really want to get others opinions on the matter. Not cause I want people saying "Aww...poor silve." That's embarassing and I hate it.

If any self mutilators have any useful information or comments about why they do it than I would honestly like to hear you. I wanna be a social worker when I grow up and depending on what field I choose, I might have to deal with cutters one day. I'd find it really interesting to talk to someone who does and carry on the information with me to a later date.
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You'll make a good social worker. Hope I helped a bit.
 
i don't really know much about this. but my friend cuts herself for fun just to see what blood looks like and to see the scars. i'm worrying about her
 
Ive never cut myself.. but my friend recently has.. i noticed the other day at college.. and I knew what had set it of.. and she said that her psychology mentor had said that it helps to relieve stress and you wont harm yourself if you do it right.. and i was like still you shouldnt do it.. and she said she wouldnt of done it but she had been drinking.. and she did it all because of a d*ckhead boy..sorry it had to be said.. he really is.. we was out and she saw him and he was trying to get it on with her best friend which resulted in here whacking her hand aganist this wood door and smashing her head aganist the wall.. and I was worried for her.. and i was just telling her to not let him get to her.. and he did.. and I hate him that he causes her soo much pain..
 
My best friend used to, hasn't done it for about four years as far as I know. She did it over a guy who was a right arse, then realised what an idiot she was being so upset about an arse of a guy so I think thats why it stopped.

I think the scars are still faint on her leg but obviously I don't say "hey, show me your legs" all the time.
 
Holey smokes...sometimes my own ignorance astounds me.

I honestly didn't know this phenomena even occurred, and obviously didn't know how wide-spread it appears to be.

I have questions now? You guys don't mind right? I sincerely wish to know more.

1. Do you have any links to information you can recommend?

2. Does the illness appear to centre in any particular social strata, or other grouping? I know Silvephantom mentioned a similarity to anorxeia. Does the similarity include the fact that it is seen mostly in higher income families, amongst people with a desire to self-perfect.

3. Is it possible I might know someone like this, yet not know what the real problem is? For example, my first reaction upon seeing scars would be to think suicide attempt? Would the sufferer encourage this misunderstanding?
 
nerd4hire said:
Holey smokes...sometimes my own ignorance astounds me.

I honestly didn't know this phenomena even occurred, and obviously didn't know how wide-spread it appears to be.

I have questions now? You guys don't mind right? I sincerely wish to know more.

1. Do you have any links to information you can recommend?

2. Does the illness appear to centre in any particular social strata? I know Silvephantom mentioned a similarity to anorxeia. Does the similarity include the fact that it is seen mostly in higher income families, amongst people with a desire to self-perfect.

3. Is it possible I might know someone like this, yet not know what the real problem is? For example, my first reaction upon seeing scars would be to think suicide attempt? Would the sufferer encourage this misunderstanding?
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I can't find my links. Here's what I remember though.

Causes for self-mutilation:

Need for attention/Shock factor: Those who show their cuts right away.
Emotional pain: The part of the brain which registers emotional pain is the same one who does physical, so you trick the brain into believing the physical pain is the only one you feel. It actually does work.
Numbness: People with extreme numbness use self-mutilation just to feel, even if all they feel is a negative sensation like pain.
It is also used by people who had been abused, in order to feel that they are in control of their body.

It has a cathartic quality like crying. A fluid leaves your body and you feel relieved.

Regarding the scars, most of the time cutters would be ashamed upon someone else seeing their scars. And the self perfect thing, yes there is a connection in some cases.

If you want links, try searching for "self-injury".
 
nerd4hire said:
2. Does the illness appear to centre in any particular social strata? I know Silvephantom mentioned a similarity to anorxeia. Does the similarity include the fact that it is seen mostly in higher income families, amongst people with a desire to self-perfect.
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My family is FAR from high income. I have no desire to self-perfect, and actually, scars don't really make you look all that good. It's not a way for me to feel good about myself. On the contrary, I actualy hate myself when I do it. It's an impulse.

3. Is it possible I might know someone like this, yet not know what the real problem is? For example, my first reaction upon seeing scars would be to think suicide attempt? Would the sufferer encourage this misunderstanding?
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Scars can mean different things, such as self-mutilation, suicide attempt, or a really cranky cat. Most of my scars are simply self mutilation. Some of them are suicide attempts. And some are form my 100 pound dog. So really, you can't tell. If one of your friends is feeling suicidal, there are signs you can trace. Such as loss of appetite, loss of interest in usualy interesting things, and they may give you a personal item of value to them. Depression can be prominent in the person's lifestyle or just hidden beneath ever other thing that's going on. I told my best friend about it, and I made her SWEAR not to tell anyone. She never found out before, so it may be hard to tell if any of your friends are actually cutting and such.Scars are the most tell-tale signs, but don't jump to conclusions. They may just have, like I said, a really pissy cat.

But then again, this is just me.
 
I don't cut myself, I've never done that.. But some of my closest friends do or used to.. It's hard to know what to say about this to people who do this.
I think mostly cutting youself isn't a suicide attempt, since it's hard to kill yourself that way.
I know I couldn't cut in my own skin even if I really wanted to (which I don't)..
A couple of years ago a lot of people that I sort of know started cutting themself just because the thing "Hey, look at me, I'm all depressed..!". Just because it was cool to be depressed and all that. And it was like, if you don't cut youself, or have anorexia, or tried to kill yourself, you're not serious and you don't have any problems at all... Which is so lame, and makes it less serious for the people who are depressed for real..
 
even realizing she'll get grief she starts to type away.....

I deal with cutters nearly every single day on the board I mod. It's exhausting because I can't relate in any way. I hate pain *ouchie*, but I never give them grief. I really wish it wasn't such a common occurence among young people and I really wish there weren't so many people that are so quick to say "oh that's okay". It's not okay. you're hurting yourself, there's hundreds of horror stories about how it went just too far or how cuts became infected and things progressed. I've been through more than prolly everyone I know who cuts themself and I have a hard time not saying "get over it".
 
I deal with cutters nearly every single day on the board I mod. It's exhausting because I can't relate in any way. I hate pain *ouchie*, but I never give them grief. I really wish it wasn't such a common occurence among young people and I really wish there weren't so many people that are so quick to say "oh that's okay". It's not okay. you're hurting yourself, there's hundreds of horror stories about how it went just too far or how cuts became infected and things progressed. I've been through more than prolly everyone I know who cuts themself and I have a hard time not saying "get over it".
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You're right in alot of places there. It's not OK, and it's serious, but once your in a situation, it's hard to get out. It's like an addiction, or something. I've never been addicted to anything, so this is what I'm guessing and addiction would be like. It's an impulse, a reaction, a solution. Though it helps nothing, it makes a world of difference for that time.

Saying "Get over it" is a tough one. People are different, and we react differently to different things. Some things may seem easy to you, but it is the most painful and difficult to others.

Wow, I never thought I'd get this many posts and these reactions. Silly me then. :turkey:

{I'm a turkey... :hihi: }
 
If anyone has any other questions, don't hesitate to post or PM me. It may seem akward, but I don't mind answering them. Remember, it's just my opinion, and not really scientific truth, or...whatever...
 
My experience with this was positive. Unless you're extremely stupid there's no real damage and it's your own body after all.
 
Lorne The Host said:
My experience with this was positive. Unless you're extremely stupid there's no real damage...
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heh. um. nah i'll let it go.

Of course one of my favorite movies--Secretary features a "cutter". Awesome movie. Of course I like it because of the sub/dom relationship but that's an entirely other discussion.

Lethe said:
Never "cut" myself, I always had other forms of masachist pleasure....
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ofcourse keeping in mind it's a family board.....what?😉
 
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