Why Do Some Teens Cut Themself?

Question

are they trying to commit suicide?
because that's not an effective way to commit suicide.
why slit their wrist when they could slit their throat?

well, i was going to rough times and i didn't cut myself. i delt with the problems with anger, cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol.

Answer 1

It's not to commit suicide, it is more of a redirection of pain and depression. The cutting serves as a pain release and a way to cope with other stressors.

Answer 2

Some resort to drugs, some use alcohol, some are promiscuous and some cut. I think everyone has a different reason. Sometimes it's to take the mind off any emotional pain and repace it with phyical pain. Sometimes it's a control issue (much like anorexia). Sometimes it's a form of self-discipline (it's an extreme measure), I'm sure there are some sick people who do it for attention,but I would say that if someone is doing something like that to themselves, it's alot deeper than seeking attention. I think that the person is in alot of pain and feels like they have no support or nobody who understands them.

Answer 3

Sweetie,I am absolutely shocked at some of these answers,especially with ones who dont have the facts Whatsoever.You dealt with your pain in a different destructive way than cutting yourself.It isnt always to gain attention.Some pain is too hard to deal with.As a recovering self mutilator I can say at one point things got really rough.I was not a teen ager,or a child for that matter.Things get rough,and each deals with their pain in different ways.It is an illness,it is very serious.Those who fake it,have no idea what they are faking.It isnt "cool",it is addicting and it is something that no one should have to go through.If anyone you know is going through this,get them help immediately.Soon that isnt going to be enough It is a very serious matter that goes on in todays society.It isnt something to play around with,and it is very dangerous and damaging.It isnt a attempt at suicide.
I have recovered,however some arent as lucky.It is an actual problem,and an addiction.I have been there so i have no right or reason to judge anyone.No one has a right or reason to judge anyone for something such as this.It is a real problem today.It isnt a joke,and it isnt fake,or to get attention.Many hide what theyve done and feel shame,so it isnt to get attention.It is a matter that needs to be dealt with,and not simply looked over..I hope you or anyone you know never have to deal with this issue.Good luck hun,and have a good day.

Answer 4

I was a cutter for a while and no, it's not about suicide. As for why, that's a very good question at the heart of the matter. I have several scars and I still don't know why. Best theory I've heard is that they feel overwhelmed and can't understand why they feel bad. By cutting themselved they at least control and understand part of the why. Not very logical but mental health issues rarely are.

And no, it's not about attention, either. As previously mentioned, most cutters hide the fact, some of them for years.

Answer 5

It's a way to divert emotional/mental/any other kind of abuse they're experiencing in life. No, it's not necessarily trying to commit suicide. When they cut themselves, they feel a sense of release. It gets their mind off of the pain they would otherwise be feeling. Sometimes it's easier to deal with self inflicted pain, than to deal with the trauma of sexual abuse, physical abuse from a parent, and other such things.

Sometimes it's for attention, but not usually. It's just a way to escape. It's hard for people to understand this, without having been through it themselves. The bottomline is that it's a form of release; a way to not think about the pain others are causing them.

Answer 6

I'm not quite sure why people cut themselves. HELL i still don't totally know why i used to. I think its almost like its pain that you can control. no one else is inflicting it on you. i dunno. i used to cu. i was depressed. My father was always degrading me by cursing at me and calling me **** that really hurt. i was going through a lot of problems and it somewhat helped i guess. i never even realized i was doing it till i was done. its not trying to commit suicide, though it can lead to it if help is not sought. I was put on antidepressants and was put through counceling. Basically it's an emotional thing. While i do feel some people do it to get attention others are just crying out for help and don't know how.

Answer 7

There are two types of cutters. There are fake cutters (who don't really do it for any reason but because their friends started doing it and they want to be cool) and there are real cutters (generally people who have been sexually abused and need relief).

Real cutters start cutting in a phenomenon. They generally have never heard of cutting, but will accidently cut themselves on something one day, feel the endorphens and realize that it will relieve trauma that they have experienced at one point. This ususally goes hand in hand with sexual abuse as a child, bulimia and anorexia.

Fake cutters see a friend cut, try it out when they are upset, feel the endorphens and just decide to try it for a bit. They can stop at anytime and, although they can become addicted to the endorphens, they usually grow out of it.

In all cases, neither of them are attempting to commit suicide, just trying to relieve mental pain through natural chemicals in their body. Generally these people are in desperate need of help, and because of this fake cutters will tell people they cut and rat out others who cut too in desperate pleas for attention.

Answer 8

I am a teen . only 14 . and I use to cut . I am proud to say i have not cut for over a year and a half. however I was never really trying to kill myself. I just had so much stress boggled up inside of me, this will sound weird, that when i cut it felt relieving. like all my problems left. i did seek counseling with my family and it helped. I still have friends that cut and I try to help them as best as I can but when it comes down to it as much therapists and other help people that they see if they are addicted, as i was, it will be very hard. as for me i did not do it for attention and i wanted to stop very badly it was just hard like an adult addicting to cigarettes, i like many teens was addicted to cutting.
i hope this helps.

Answer 9

It is both a cry for help, and a mental dissorder that is hard to stop. Cutting yourself helps you feel something worse than you already feel.

There is no right or wrong way to drown your sorrows, some people just do it different. I would not put someone down for having done this.

Answer 10

It's not about suicide. Some people are so 'empty' on the inside that they cut themselves to feel the pain-- because pain is better than nothing. It's very sad, isn't it?