Are there any former cutters here?

Question

I would like opinions on whether it's mental or a form of rebellion. What is it that made (makes) you do it? How did you manage to stop doing it?
This is important. I'm asking for a friend.

Answer 1

I cut because my body didn't feel real and cutting somehow proved it was, because it releases endorphins which make you feel less depressed (temporarily), because physical pain is easier to deal with than emotional pain. It wasn't really rebellion, it was just the best way I could figure out to cope. The only reason I've stopped is because I got treatment for my bipolar depression. Cutting is just a symptom of an underlying problem. It's a coping mechanism. Your friend needs to get professional treatment if it's that serious.

Answer 2

Yes, it is SO important. I haven't cut in over a year, but still want to sometimes. It is an addiction, and very difficult to escape. Cutters generally cut for attention, to cope with emotional difficulty, or sometimes both. For example, if the person cuts somewhere obvious and doesn't make much effort to cover it up--or even shows it to people--that's for attention. I don't know much about that one because I used it as a way to cope.

But to actually answer your question--I never saw it as rebellion. I was just trying to let something out that I didn't know how to deal with any other way. It put me in control and it gave me the chemical rush that a wound causes (that's the part you're really getting addicted to). And the way I stopped? I talked to good friends when I felt like doing it. I sat on my hands. I wrote in a journal all the racing thoughts that happen when you're trying not to, and eventually I broke the habit. I hope your friend will be alright. Just make sure that you do not abandon this person.

Answer 3

I have never had this disorder personally and I'm not answering this to make fun of anyone who has had it or is still dealing with it. I am answering because I care and I have read about this and have know of others who have been through this. I don't know for certain was causes it ,but, I have read that it is usually used as a way of dealing with pain becuase it releases endorphines. I believe it has more to do with mental issues and not so much (if any with rebellion.) I don't think it just goes away, it must be treated with counseling and/or medication. God Bless.

Answer 4

i am so tired of being accused/told that i must have borderline personality disorder because i am a cutter - give me a break

anyway, i am a former cutter and a current cutter. give me your opinion - when i was learning to shave, i was proud of the shave job i had done - i showed my dad's friend and she said i did a good job EXCEPT for this long section that i missed along the bone in my lower leg. i took a shower again and used the razor to get the area i had missed - well i really wanted to do well and i ended up pushing the razor too hard agianst my skin - this caused a few layers of skin to be ripped off and my leg bled like mad - it would not stop bleeding - i was only 11 and thoguht it was kinda neat - i was amazed that no matter how long i compressed it or bandages i used, it just kept bleeding. anyway, life went on..

over the years litlte things happened. if i accidentally tripped and fell into something, causing a big bruise on my leg, i thought it was neat - i would try to replicate this.

eventually i ffound cutting. i remember sitting lcoked away in my room - back agisnt the dooor - all alone - i would cut and ctu - ripping layers of skin off - the blood never stopping - - evnetually the razor woudl be too full of skin cells, hair and skin so i would have to stop - or gent another one

um okay, anyway, so i stopped with my story because i can't focus right now so back to your questions....

it's mental for me - i believe tthat n o phsyical pain that i endure can ever be as great as the mental hell that i put myself through

i dont undrestnad it as a concept of a from of are bellion??

okay, so like i said, what makes me do it is jsut knowing that i am going to feel better if i do

see my brain is racing and i'm beating myself up mentally, i hate me, i hate what i do/who i am, i hate that i cant control the ocd, i am worthless, life sucks etc - anyway, my mind just goes insane int oa depression world SO THEN i cut and guess what? I feel great. A[pparently endorphins rush through my body which elevates my mood. Things are great for awhile. I feel like the cutttingn allow s me to 'refocus' - it helps get all the extra thoughts out of the way. This generally happens because I have to focus in order to clean up the wounds. or maybe i just do refocus because i have something new catching my attention.

wow, i keep losing time a nd not being able to follow (iv'e been awake over 112 hours - woohoo). So um, i am a sepcial case and if i make the commitment to not do something, i do not do it.

I will rarely agree to not cut during the really bad times. i did quit for a year though just so i could tell someone to go ff*(* themselves. If i make a deal, i stickl with it - no excuses..

Answer 5

I look typical to you on the street. You wouldn't' know who I am but manage a smile. And inside its different. I have been raped too many times to count, and still suffer this kind of sexual abuse, my father is abusive to my mother, I have had too many attempts of suicide, I am a drug addict. But to anyone else I am 13 and make great grades and I'm the crazy psychedelic artist and photographer who has friends. I look normal. I act normal. In my room its different. My parents don't know about that stuff. And I use to cut. A lot. And then I brought it together one day and I quit drugs and suicidal attempts. I stopped cutting. One day its a magical point and you want to get it together. But now over a year later I am back on drugs but no suicidal attempts--- and Ive never gotten therapy or anything.

Answer 6

I'm a former psychiatric nurse. The "cutting" you're referring to is an aspect of certain personality disorders, most commonly Borderline Personality Disorder. The patients I had which exhibited this practice stated they did it to "relieve tension," or "because it felt good to do it." It is also an attention-seeking behavior. Most of the people who did this were in their teens to early 20s, and the behavior lessened as they got older. Therapy and medications for anxiety often help lessen the behavior, but in my experience nothing entirely stops it.
My advice is to send the "friend" to a therapist or psychiatrist as soon as possible. While the cutting behavior rarely results in permanent injury, it is possible to do real damage, or accidentally result in permanent disability or death.

Answer 7

Here. I don't obsess with it. Or used to. It's just when you try it once, it seems like nothing. Then at one point, you get mad or stressed, then it seems like a good form of relief or something to take your anger out on. And at the moment, it might seem good, because when you cut while you are mad, you can't feel pain, and it's just something you do that is almost mechanical. But how do you manage to stop? You just realize that it is wrong to do. And there are other healthier or at least other ways to take out your stress without hurting yourself.

Answer 8

See http://www.focusas.com/selfinjury.html To help in the short term, a rubber band on the wrist is pulled and released (only wear for a few minutes, maximum) or an ice cube in both hands, or a red line drawn across the wrist.

Answer 9

This behavior was transient and only occurred for a short period in my early twenties. I believe it is a form of compulsive behavior. Therapy, time, and hormonal influence caused the behavior to shortened enough so that damages we minimal. I still have the scars though.

Answer 10

Most people who cut themselves suffer from BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder)...they cut themselves as a form of coping with stress, outside stress or stress inside yourself. There is a lot of information available about it on the internet and support groups are available. Please tell your friend to check into it.