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'm 13 and was looking at this to find an easyeasy to explain what I do to my parents and yes it helped but when I cut its to stop my head from spinning and for those seconds the adrenaline from the blood distracts me and when I feel truly hurt I'd do anything to feel better even if it's for a second
Hi, my name is Jessica. I have been cutting for 5 years. I'm happy to say I haven't cut myself in 2 months. It must be hard for people to understand and I can't even understand myself. It's definitely a way to try to control my emotions. I feel a lot of guilt from things over the years and cutting became a way of punishing myself. The last time I did it was the most painful time. I was in agony for 2 weeks. I'm glad everything is cleared up and its nice to not see my body with cuts all over it. It's a very painful addiction and I'm sorry for anyone else who is suffering from this.
I just started cutting I like the pain it takes the emotion away it makes feel in control of what is hurting me. I don't know why I started cutting my life has been hard and I've learn to cope without cutting but since a couple weeks ago I couldn't help it so I cut. when I cut I feel good like I'm in control of my pain I even wanted to kill myself a year ago but I met a friend and they told that I'm needed in this world. They said no matter how much it hurts don't do anything u would regret. So I didn't do it how ever I'm still emotional and it seems to be growing every day but I think I can handle it. My dad use to say this no matter how hard always hope for the best but be ready for the worst.
I cut because i feel that this is the only way i can forget about everything that is going on my life, i have gotten used to it that it doesnt es ven hurt that much anymore, i have always felt alone like no one could understand me,like no one could help me, but now am trying to fight against ME to stop but my anxieties, fears nd problems seem to be stronger than me, every night of every day i cry my self to sleep because of ths i want to stop but i really don't know if I'll be able to control ths it's been a month now sense i don't do it nd it's not being easy because of all the things i go trough every day wth my family nd life but am trying to fight i know it won't be that easy but i will fight, nd i think you all shoul fight to
No one wants to hear "It gets better." And personally I don't either. I have been cutting so I definitely get it. It's overwhelming to deal with all of the judgment and misconceptions about it. You feel like nobody understands and no one wants to be there for you. The truth is most people just don't know how to deal with it. They don't want to upset you or make it worse. Sometimes the best thing friends/family can do when they know you are cutting is just be there for you! Maybe telling them that would put them at ease and make them feel more comfortable about dealing with it. I have depression (probably the reason for cutting). Cutting isn't a suicide attempt, but I've found more me, and probably MANY others, suicidal thoughts have been occurring. One of the only reassuring things I've heard and tell myself about this is that for some reason I'm still here now and even if I can't see it, there's a reason I've hung on this long. There's a reason I've kept myself around. In the show Supernatural, a character says that he tells himself he will get by until the end of the week and next week he will start over. Though VERY difficult to do, it's great advice. If you are dealing with problems or cutting, ect. then I do hope you get better! I know you're thinking "she doesn't even know me so she doesn't care" (cuz that's what I think when I read these), but the truth is I am very empathetic and understanding of anyone going through similar things as me. So yeah I don't know you, but just hang on anyway. Just til the end of the week... Then start over.