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.
I think my reason for cutting is very strange
I literally just like the way the cuts look. My life is really bad right now but looking at the cuts make me happy despite feeling sad and lonely most of the time. There is something about seeing something different on my body that makes me happy. It's like having my hair dyed a stronge colour or drawing a tatto on your hand
My scars make me happy I think of them like little pieces of art
I just like to look at them or stroke them gently .
Does anyone else like their scars? Or am I the only one with this weird feeling
wow my friend cuts and she has had all the stuff above happen to her that makes sence thank u for writing this
Hi guys.
My "name" for here is Navi. I am 20 years old. I have a great, supportive boyfriend, and a really good group of friends both back home and away at college. My grades are average, I'm not chronically ill. And I self harm.
As an outsider looking in, you might wonder, why? Her life seems pretty good. And it is. Flash back 5 years. I was a sophomore in high school. My friends had abandoned me, my boyfriend was abusive, my father was verbally abusive. Then my grandmother, who I was very close to, passed away unexpectedly. That's when the self harm started.
Now, I'm halfway done with college. I have a boyfriend who genuinely cares about me and friends that love me. My father and I are on better terms. But still, sometimes, I cut. And while its not okay that I still do this, I know I will be okay. I'm a lot better than I used to be.
So this is just a reminder for you all. People you may not expect to be suffering can still be suffering from past damage, no matter how amazing their lives are now. But it does get better. Never ever give in completely, it will be better. You'll find people who love and understand you. You Are Not Alone.
I am so thankful for your compassionate heart for this person who is struggling. We have an eBook that gives even more information about self-harm - http://info.thehopeline.com/selfharm You can also chat with a HopeCoach about the situation and get ideas for how to help. Simply click the "chat now" button. Thank you for being such a caring person.
I just need some advice I know someone who self-harms and I really want to be there for them but it is so hard to form a friendship with them.
I literally don't know what to do but I feel so bad. I saw this and thought maybe someone can help. Thanks.