Why do so many people think that cutting is the same as being suicidal?

Question

It's not! I mean, sure it's a self-destructive behavior, but so is drinking too much, taking drugs, or even driving way too fast. But if someone goes out and drinks till they puke no ones says they were trying to kill themselves and failed. So why do so many people think that cutting yourself means your suicidal or that it's like a failed suicide attempt or stuff?

Answer 1

because they are stupid. no suicide and cutting are two completely different things. cutting helps releive stress, to be able to feel something, or to have controll. as odd as that sounds. its likea drug, the high you get when you injure yourself is like nothing ive ever experienced. (i no longer cut btw) it makes you feel better because you are in control of the situation. you know what you are doing and you are the one who is doing it...does that make sence? i guess in some cases suicidal people cut their wrists but then chicken out (thank god)and dont go deep enough. but that isnt the case with alot of cutters. they cut to feel, they cut to releive, and they cut to control. at least that was the case with me. never once when i was cutting did i think "man i want to die". i thought "man this razor feels good, it makes me feel better"
you gotta find someone who understands you, like my husband used to cut too. we understand eachother and we both no longe cut.

Answer 2

So many people think that way because they are not professional people, they dont really understand why people self mutilate. As a matter of fact profesionals know very little about why people self harm....there are theories, but no-one really knows, because people deal with stress in all sorts of way, self harm being one of them.

I worked with youth for 25 years and came across a lot of self harmers....none of them wanted to kill themselves, it was a release for them, nothing more. But realistically, while it is not a direct attempt at killing yourself, self harmers have died accidently. So death does happen as a result of self harm.

I am sure you are getting counselling because you are pretty "up" knowing self mutilation is not an attempt at suicide. Unless you work in the area or actually self mutilate, then to others, who know nothing about self mutilation will assume it is an attemp at suicide....so you cant really blame them for not knowing the ins and the outs of self mutilation.

If you arent getting counselling, then you really need to because you know your self mutilation is a direct result of a more serious problem. If you are afraid to get counselling because self mutilation gives you the release you need. I assure you, with counselling you will learn other ways to deal with your pain. This control over your life by cutting yourself will be replaced with control of another kind with counselling. You will learn to become whole again, you will learn that you do have the power within yourself to live a wonderful productive life without the need to cut yourself. It will take time, but with the correct type of counselling and maybe medication, you will see that cutting yourself is not the only thing you are good at.

I wish you well, you are so precious, but I do understand exactly what you are saying. Yes people do use alcohol for the same reasons as you cut yourself, they dont necessarily want to kill themselves either, but the sad thing is that they can end up killing themselves while under the influence of alcohol.

Answer 3

Most people don't understand cutting at all, and so like most things people don't understand they see it in the most negative light possible. It looks so drastic and extreme to them, that they can't understand someone doing it to make themselves simply feel better or forget, the same as someone with a drinking problem. Cutting is an obvious self-destructive behavior. The damage is apparent the moment after it is carried out. With drinking, the physical damage may take years to be realized. Because it's so obvious and observable, people are shocked by it.

Answer 4

Cutting yourself is not suicidal this I agree with, I also know its not for attention. However, I think the fact that death is a possible end result makes it appear to be suicidal. I think most of us consider alcohol consumption a road to death on some levels... this is why my brother and I have severed ties, because he has ruined his life and has been in soooo many life threatening situations that you almost expect death. Cutting yourself is a lazy way of your handling your problems, trust me this I have learned in my past. It is much harder to admit you have issues and deal at the core then putting a bic to your wrist :D Working out is a good start, it helps release all the tension and it also takes up some of that free time that you obviously have.

Good luck to you :D

Answer 5

i would only guess that cutting would be some sort of sick infliction of pain enjoying the pain as a sadomasochist would do. wanting to see and feel the pain of self infliction. then the tearing of the skin it is some sort of sick personal issue i wouldn't say suicidal cause you aren't cutting a major vain or artery. i would say like tattooing yourself constantly or piercing your body. now don't get me wrong i do have a tattoo and i think they are nice i am just illustrating the difference with cutting and suicidal. i believe that when you excessively do something, anything even eating can be detrimental to your health and deadly.

Answer 6

I agree with you. And honestly I don't know why. It's not always a suicide attempt. Slitting the wrists in a well known way of suicide I guess...so people (being ignorant) just think that's what we tried to do.

Answer 7

BECAUSE - people that are going out to drink or smoke cigs or what the heck ever they are going to be doing, are doing it to have a good time.

You are cutting because you are unhappy.
Does that explain it a little better?

Yeah you have the few addictive personality types that have to have the drink or smoke, but, for the most part fewer people are drinking cause they are upset. more are drinking to party.

So, should everyone get together and have a " we feel bad, so let's all cut ourselves party"?

I THINK NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is AGB - why don't you get the scrabble game out and ask mom to play.
That's a little more constructive that cutting.

GET a LIFE

Answer 8

So tell us why people cut. What do they get out of it? If so many people have the wrong idea, tell us what the right idea is. And please be honest and specific. Some of us would really like to know before making a judgment. Maybe people assume it relates to suicidal tendency's because that's the closest thing it looks like to them.

Answer 9

I don't, but like you say it's still a self destructive behaviour and doesn't do you any favours in the long run. You know it's only a temporary fix that leaves you with lots of lovely scars to show for it. HTH.

Answer 10

I know where you are coming from, the people that dont do it just dont understand. It really hard to explain but when I am depressed it makes me feel better. The best way i have found to describe it is that it is a release of emotional pain through physical pain. All i know is it works for me, so why mess with a good thing.