Why do some people cut themselves and what kind of help do you seek?

Question

I have a family member who cuts themselves, they are very shallow scratches but enough to draw blood. How do I react to them , what steps should I take and are there any support groups for this.

It is hard for me to understand why but it seems like I hear of this a lot on the news etc.

I am very worried!

Answer 1

It can be a mental condition that results from an imbalance but often times it is simply a cry for help.
Invite them out for coffee or something and try to show love and compassion by explaining your concern and how you might help them.
They may be skeptical at first but be consistent. Do this maybe once a week and in the process talk to someone who doesn't know them but might give you some wise advice on how to encourage them through this dilemma.
You may be their last hope, consider this a priviledge, you certainly dont want to be sitting at their funeral in grief over why you didn't intervene.

Answer 2

As to explain what they feel when they do that - you see some people who don't understand the purpose of their being or feel like the are getting cold or numb do that to draw blood in specific the depth does not matter. The flowing blood is the source of warmth and life for them literary. That makes them feel alive and they would not stop untill they are ingaged to the extend they don't have time and even then when they are very tired or frustrated they will again draw blood to relax themselves. It is quite a common habit.
React as if nothing happened and calmly each time that that's not what they should do try getting people they respect involved but do not let him know that you were the one to involve them - they might not react positively to that. Try getting a therapist to look in the person's personality to get the exact result and for your information this is best cured without support group and with the aid of friends and family.
Relax and do your thing.
Luck

Answer 3

Call NAMI, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill and ask them for help. You can attend one of their meetings and find out a lot of information that can help you get your family member some help. This is a very serious thing to do and he/she definitely need to get help. Talk to this person and tell him/her about your concerns. Try to talk about any problems that are being experienced and you will know a bit more to try to help. Talk to other family members and tell them. It is easier to get someone help when an effort is made by your whole family. Talk to your family doctor and tell him or her about your concerns. You may get some valuable suggestions or the doctor may intervene and help you out directly. Above all, if this is going on, you must get this family member to get some help. This is a symptom that many people exhibit and it needs counseling and may need medication.

Answer 4

i did a paper on this a while ago. they usually did that because they have an enormous amount of stress (family, friends, school problems, etc) and they cut themselves because they think the physical pain can substitute for their emotional pain, it made them forget about the stress even if only for a while. now this doesn't apply for everyone as they usually have their own reasons, but most say this is the reason why they cut themselves.

i suggest you take them to a psychiatrist, if they don't want to try talking to them and be their friend so they would want to open up to you.

Answer 5

Cutting is often a way of releasing pain or experiencing pain so they can feel something. Cutting can actually be a life saving process. It is a way to release feelings. Look at it this way, sometimes people cut so that they don't do something worse.

In any event, the person should seek professional mental help. There are a lot of things to help with the problems behind cutting.

Best of luck.

Answer 6

a family member did that same....

VERY scarey at first, but found the source....being "threatened at school" and nobody believed her...her life was being threatened over and over, she asked for help, but nobody believed her till she got proof. (print out of online conversation and threats) and caller-ID proof and texts messages of threats....etc...

One police officer believed her and offered to help her switch high schools. When she switched schools, the cuttings stopped

it's a call for help, but need delicate intervention, possibly professional help

good luck

P.S. Never yell at the person, it only makes it worse, because they already feel they are the cause of another problem(s)

Answer 7

It could be either an attention-getting behavior, or an attempt to feel control over their life to compensate for the things that are beyond their control. By all means, get this person in with a psychiatrist ASAP.

Answer 8

support groups, mental doctors and drugs, this person is trying to relieve some sort of emotional pressure and gain attention . they need help. get them to a doctor before they cut deeper than they mean to.

Answer 9

people cut to give themselves sensation...good or bad. Most have serious problems in their lives, and do it to get bad thoughts out of their heads...maybe feel empty and need something to fill the void in their minds. The only way to get help is to talk to them, and get them to admit they have a problem with it, if they completly deny help, you can get help in your local community with counciling or even inhouse treatment facility. It can leave so many scars....they never go away.There is a reason to worry.

Answer 10

they are most likely dealing with alot of emotional stress. dealings with life, the weight of existance, stuff like that. they probably dont know how to handle it properly and they let it drag them into a bit of a depressed slump.