how do you heal cutting?

Question

i've been a cutter for 4 years and i don't know how to stop it.

Answer 1

yeah, ok. this on that. the first obvious thing is to suggest professional help as some here have stated. of course that's the best idea since this isn't something easily dealt with on ones own. on ther other hand it's so often a personal private and very secretive disorder. perhaps you're taking the first step by writeing this here. it's sometimes very difficult to seek help, believe me, i know what that's like.

the key to any solution (to any problem) is understanding the problem. Cutting is what experts call an unhealthy coping mechanism. This means that the people who do it have not developed healthy ways of dealing with strong emotions, intense pressure, or upsetting relationship problems. It's a confused way of feeling in control.

People who cut sometimes have other mental health problems that contribute to this problem. Cutting is sometimes (but not always) associated with depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, obsessive thinking, or compulsive behaviors. it's sometimes axxociated with drugs and alchohol abuse. and too it can be habit forming, an addiction, sorta like smoking or drinking. unfortunately cutting has lately become "cool" in certain circles, a way of fitting in.

so there i've explained what it is. now you need to think about how this relates to your own private experience. Try to figure out what feelings or situations are causing you to cut. Is it anger? Pressure to be perfect? Relationship trouble? A painful loss or trauma? Mean criticism or mistreatment? see, cutting is just a coping mechanism ~ you know, better you should talk to someone, but you "can't" so you find your own way of dealing. but so often we don't even know what it is we're tryin to cope with. i've been around this block a time or two.

once you identify what it is that initially drove you to this behavior then you need to start addressing those causes. and here's something important. if you are in some social circle that does practice cutting get out. if you don't remove yourself from them they will do this negative reinforcement thing. back to smoking and drinking; it's a lot easier to quit smoking or drinking if the people around you do not smoke or drink, that's just common sense.

finally, stop putting it off. you need a support group, and you need conseling. i gotta think you're a teen, that mean there is a school counselor around somewhere. or there are these teen help agencies ~ drop in centers and such. it may not be easy to approach one of these, you could use the phone for the first contact. you can get past this thing. you should get past it. speaking from personal experience the longer you wait the harder it seems to be, but really, it's just a moment in time, and more importantly it is opening a door to a better tommorrow.

i wish you good luck with this.

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Answer 2

Same here but I have not cut in 4 years now. I went through intense therapy, and did DBT, dialectical behavior therapy. Marsha Linnehan is the one who teaches about the behaviorial therapy through vidieo tapes. A trained therapist , who has experience with DBT can help you find out first of all why you are a cutter and with her DBT skills, she and you can work together to find better ways to cope! It is hard work but let me tell you, it's worth it to not ever have to injure yourself again for any reason! Seek out a therapist who know about DBT. Oh yeah, until then "redirect" . Find anything else to do when you get the urge to cut, I mean like turn the raido up loud and sing along to your favorite music, go for a walk or run, take a bath, just exhaust yourself enough till the cutting urge passes. You CAN do this:)

Answer 3

Getting Help
There are better ways to deal with troubles than cutting - healthier, long-lasting ways that don't leave a person with emotional and physical scars. The first step is to get help with the troubles that led to the cutting in the first place. Here are some ideas for doing that:

1. Tell someone. People who have stopped cutting often say the first step is the hardest - admitting to or talking about cutting. But they also say that after they open up about it, they often feel a great sense of relief. Choose someone you trust to talk to at first (a parent, school counselor, teacher, coach, doctor, or nurse). If it's too difficult to bring up the topic in person, write a note.

2. Identify the trouble that's triggering the cutting. Cutting is a way of reacting to emotional tension or pain. Try to figure out what feelings or situations are causing you to cut. Is it anger? Pressure to be perfect? Relationship trouble? A painful loss or trauma? Mean criticism or mistreatment? Identify the trouble you're having, then tell someone about it. Many people have trouble figuring this part out on their own. This is where a mental health professional can be helpful.

3. Ask for help. Tell someone that you want help dealing with your troubles and the cutting. If the person you ask doesn't help you get the assistance you need, ask someone else. Sometimes adults try to downplay the problems teens have or think they're just a phase. If you get the feeling this is happening to you, find another adult (such as a school counselor or nurse) who can make your case for you.

4. Work on it. Most people with deep emotional pain or distress need to work with a counselor or mental health professional to sort through strong feelings, heal past hurts, and to learn better ways to cope with life's stresses. One way to find a therapist or counselor is to ask at your doctor's office, at school, or at a mental health clinic in your community.

Although cutting can be a difficult pattern to break, it is possible. Getting professional help to overcome the problem doesn't mean that a person is weak or crazy. Therapists and counselors are trained to help people discover inner strengths that help them heal. These inner strengths can then be used to cope with life's other problems in a healthy way.

Answer 4

You have to seek medical advice. There's a reason why you're doing this and you need to treat the underlying condition that's causing you to continue to cut.

Answer 5

See a psychiatrist. They're there to help you, not to judge you or make you feel bad. It's a psychiatrist's job to help you figure out why you cut and how you can stop yourself.

Answer 6

See a SHRINK