There is so much confusion around the addiction of cutting. It's hard for some people to understand why you, or someone you know, would repeatedly harm themselves on purpose. I want to break through the confusion and help those who practice cutting as a way of life. I've heard a lot of people say, why would anyone do such a thing as purposely cause pain to their bodies? So, let's begin to uncover the reasons why so many people cut themselves.
Most People Cut to Cover an Even Deeper Emotional Pain
As I have talked with hundreds of people that self-harm, one major reason emerges over and over again: Most people cut themselves to try to cope with an even deeper emotional pain. If you or anybody you know is cutting, please understand cutting is a way of covering something much deeper and painful going on inside.
Cover Self-Hate
An anonymous blogger put it this way: I used to cut because I felt like it was the only way to feel something other than the hurt and confusion and self-hate that was driving me insane. I would cut because I hated myself so much that I wanted to tear myself to pieces.
Cover Past Trauma
Most cutters' ability to cope with life is overwhelmed by powerful emotions or extreme pressure that seem too intense to bear. Jenessa said she's been a cutter for 7 years. I was sexually abused by someone very close to me. I started cutting because I always thought that what happened was my fault. I have never gotten over it, so I used to cope with any problem I had by cutting. Taking it out on myself was so much easier than figuring out what to do emotionally.
Can't Express Emotional Pain
When these emotions aren't dealt with, tension builds up. Cutting can feel like a release of this tension. Rachel said cutting is a way for her to deal with her pain: It's an escape from reality. No matter how temporary it is it's a relief to escape all the pain.
Most cutters struggle to express their pain to others. Without the words or outlet to express their emotional pain, they give into a short cut, a destructive physical expression toward themself. Laken said cutting is her first reaction when she feels disappointment or difficulty. When I fail a test, when I get in a fight, when I am called a mean name, or when anything bad happens the first thought is to cut. It is horrible and I always fall back on it.
The physical pain has a calming effect on her more agonizing emotional pain. Cutting is the treating of one pain with another. A cutter's life is one of the choices between one kind of pain or a much greater one. Amy said: It feels good when you have physical pain to take away from your emotional pain.
Avoid Dealing with Deep Feelings
The problem with self-injury as with any addiction, is that by harming yourself you never really are able to confront your deepest feelings. Perhaps that is you. You are using cutting to try to cope with an even deeper emotional pain. It is hard to say no to something that feels so good. But in the end, cutting will fail you every time.
Don't lose hope. There are healthy ways to deal with your emotions and to stop cutting for good. Check out these helpful resources on self-harm from TheHopeLine.
If you or someone you know is struggling with self-harm, check out TheHopeLine's free eBook.
It's something else to think about. If you're in pain you can let that consume you and you don't have to focus on anything else that's bothering you. It's the strangest cycle though. You feel a bit better when you do it, awful immediately after, like why would you ever do this to yourself it's dumb and silly and immature, but then the next day when your heart starts to race and your cuts don't hurt as much... Then it starts over
I cut because I was born insecure.. call me ugly I cry.. My parents doesn't show care to me sometimes... it.. made me feel.. "unwanted"..For all the cutters... I hope you understand
I know this post was from a while ago....I'm not even sure if anyone will read my response....the website was actually very helpful, considering i've never really indulged my deep, dark hardships...I LIVE it...I have been living it.
And in response to your post sweetpea, I, on the other hand have been fortunate and blessed in so many ways, probably in every aspect of my life. Most ppl would always think I had it all. But truth be told, I was abused at an early age, it took me a long time to ever admit that to anyone, especially myself...I could have everything, I was brought up in a good family, never wanted for anything, am blessed with brains and beauty....but the point is, I am 35yrs old, and utterly alone, and can't yet forgive myself nor trust any guy. I've never sought out therapy, but I know how it feels to just always want to escape and forget any emotions.
i sometimes feel the same that lifes weight is to heavy to bear i find music helps me and i find that i wish on death but death has nothing to offer me but life has nothing to offer but theres always a way to make it through i fell sorry for thepeople driven to do this but cutting isnt the way to deal with it and i dont know how its feels to be that emotionaly hurt but i know that the pain i have is mine but that doesnt mean other people can help carry the burden with you not for you theres always a ray and luckily i can always find that ray but somtimes i fear theres no way out but you can make it i do so you can your mind is the strongest thing you have its stonger that metal if you have the will thats all i have to say.
I alway thought of "cutters" as teenage girls. In hidden spots that none could see. I was not a "cutter" growing up, but later realized I used pain as a release, a self inflicted bruise or "accidental scratch or cut. Something to take physical pain always present, to manifest the inner darkness. It was much later in life, that I would take a knife or sharp object and drag it across mt chest or stomach. Sometime deeper than others. Something that I could play off as an accident from yard work or accidental. Again, it what I do to feel, to know I am alive and not in that haze of just walking thru life. I am retired military, and the adrenaline of that is gone, the danger or just plain distraction of the profession. My point to all this is..... It only gets more difficult , as you get older. At some point you will be called to face the dark. Reach out, and find help. No one is alone, and this has no face. It affects all ages, gender, race and economic levels.
Is it normal to cut yourself for years. Do I need to see a doctor. Please help me.