Why do people stereotype Self Injurers as "crazy", "emo or "attention seeking"?

Answer 1

because they don't understand

Answer 2

Because to self injure, cut oneself is far from the norm of how to deal with problems. Its basically self Mutilation and the average person who isn't usually even aware that people do this or can neither begin to understand why is aghast at this practice. People who do this need to get professional help for the more they resort to doing this to release stress,to feel life the more closed,difficult it will beome to find healthier ways to do this. This is not a accepted way nor considered even in the mental health field to be "Normal".Its also necessary to get Professional help for the longer this practice is done the more cutting and the deeper the cut to where it is life-threatening.There are other ways-keep a journal which is a tool to get the feelings out,talk to school counselor if parents are unapproachable (if Child)if adult find group therapy with other cutters and so on.

Answer 3

I can't belive someone answered that "they are crazy!"

The General Pubic has sterotyped self-injurers, and it is annoying. I blame Frankie on the Real World San Diego.
Emo my @$$. I understand the urge to cut, and the frustration when people JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND!
Buy a SoftLight laser to heal your scars.
Try to ignore people's reactions- cutting is not ALL about getting attention, and it sucks when people give you the "wrong" kind of attention. You're trying to yell, "Fix Me! Can't You See I Need Help!" and all they hear is "Stay Away From The Crazy Girl"

Answer 4

There has to be something bothering these people who injure themselves...Why would you want to inflict pain on yourself...I don't like saying a person is crazy or emotional or even trying to get attention, but they should seek professional help. Its not "NORMAL"...something is wrong...there has to be a problem. A professional would definitely think they need help. The real question is, why would they want to harm themselves??You call it stereotyping.. I call it depression, being unhappy and a cry for help...

Answer 5

Because they can't understand why a person whould want to hurt themselves, and possibly subcounsciously they are afriad of those who cut themselves because they are human, so they are scared that themselves could get to that level. A stretch but who knows. Well, also there are alot of myths about self harm. Like at my school, the self injurers are thought of as just weak, being pathetic ("oh, my girlfriend dumped me, i want to die" is often heard when ppl talk about cutters), or that they are just following the popular thing (when my parents found out i was self harming the counsellor told them not to worry, that it was just a fad, she was a moron). Lots of people just can't understand why hurting yourself would make your feel better, so they just write it off as crazy. And as for attention seeking, there are some who do cut for attention (but even then, they need just as much help as someone who cuts but doesn't want attention, if they are that desperate for it), and there are also some who show others thier wounds are don't hide them effectively enough but who are actually crying out for help and not wanting attention. It is just a phenomenon that lots of people don't understand, and would rather subscribe to the popular school of thought of them being weak and stuff, rather than taking time to look at the situation. And for why they are often called emo, that's often because that is the group that is most commonly associated with cutting, because it is known that atleast some of them cut and stuff, so poeple just like to lump them all together i guess. But i don't really know any emo cutters personally, i know 2 goths and a church girl who used to cut, but that's about it. I hope this helped some, wouldn't be suprised if it didn't lol soz

-sarah

Answer 6

because they dont understand.
but however some people so injure for attention or because they think it's cool. if that is the case i dont care what people call them.

however if thats not the case but someone is self injuring for deeper and real reasons then i think the stereotypers should get lost. i myself am a self injurer but i do it for reasons. i think people should shut up until they understand whats going on. people who don't self-injure find it hard to understand why.

xx

Answer 7

Because people who injure themselves on purpose have a mental disorder. They are trying to get attention. They get satisfication out of physical pain. If you are one of these people you need to get professional help. Don't think that you can cure this problem yourself. You will need help from a professional. Get help before it is to late.

Answer 8

People are ignorant and that's one of the reasons they stereotype others. I've been told by my psychologist that self injurers do that to relieve their emotional pain. If you are doing this you do really need to get professional help. I know how badly emotional pain can be. There are people out there who are equipped to help you find ways of getting release from that emotional pain. I have been in counselling for years off and on. I have friends who have committed themselves to psychiatric hospitals because of emotional pain. Please get help for yourself. You ARE worth it you know.
LL

Answer 9

Because it is eaisier to steyotype and make fun of people than to admit that you may be like them in some way or try to help.

And people who don't understnad can be asshole and make it worse. And yet people wander why so many people ask for help. Do you mkae fun of a cncer patient for going on medication. Althought it can be for attention, it rarely is. It is a coping mechanism, a way out of the pain.

and people are so judgemental and they act like ***** and pt pisses me off.

PS. **** spelling

Answer 10

Here's the logic:

If you are honestly and truly screwed up and you cut yourself, you will get a lot of attention.

Thus, many people who are not screwed up and just need to martyr themselves will cut themselves for attention. They are obviously much more vocal than the people who really need help, so they end up making the people with real problems look bad.

Answer 11

So why is it that you do it?

Does it feel particularly good when you cut your skin and bleed? Why? Are you a masochist?

If you are not attention-seeking, why don't you just put the knife away and do something that involves fun? What are you trying to prove to yourself? That you are so strong that you can hurt someone (you)? In my opinion, hurting someone -- anyone, including yourself -- is not good in any way.

It's bad enough that there are things in the world that hurt you; why do you hurt yourself?