Why do people cut themselves???

Question

Just wanted to understand what people are thinking when they cut themslves?

Answer 1

Here are some excerpts from previous similar questions that I've answered that you may find helpful:

There are multiple reasons why people self-mutilate and each case needs to be explored individually. The most common reason is that it occurs in order to induce a dissociative state and assists people who have been traumatized with achieving a state of emotional numbness and you hear it described as soothing for them. The physiological basis for it stems from the release of endorphins-the brain's natural painkillers-which function much like opiates and dull the experience of emotional pain. Other reasons include the opposite rationale-people who feel numb emotionally and who have shut down will self-mutilate in order to feel something and remember they are alive. Others do it for self-punishment and feel relief from guilt or shame and see the letting of blood as a way to purge themselves of guilt. It may be a way of re-enacting and attempting to master early traumatic experiences This often happens during a dissociative state where people are recalling experiences which were traumatizing and they feel a need to punish/purge themselves for what they often mistakenly believe they have done wrong. There are also folks who do it as a way to cope with unrelenting chronic physical pain from other sources as it creates an alternative pain that distracts them from the chronic pain (think of the principle behind how a TENS unit works). In more rare instances it can be a response to psychotic states where folks are responding to command hallucinations or believe they are purging themselves from some evil inside them. There are other less common reasons, depending on the form of self-mutilation (eye enucleation, castration, etc.) that tend to be symbolic in nature. But most commonly it is done in response to increased feelings of tension with which the individual cannot cope and it becomes a way for them to dissociate their emotional pain and achieve an emotional numbing. The goal of treatment is to fully understand the reasons that sustain the behavior and in the latter case (the most common) to help people develop affect tolerance and the ability to cope with and soothe their emotional pain in healthier ways.

Answer 2

I can easily cut and paste anything from any mental health site here, but you could just as easily look that up yourself.
Yes, for some it is merely for attention.. A school type fad. "I am cool .. look at this.." and then they show it off and other people want to be cool like them and run home to scratch up their arms. Just stupid kids with nothing better to do with their time. They are not worth my attention. They get plenty by showing off to their confused friends that think it is cool.

I know of many people that do.. it doesn't apply for all of them all the time, but they are typically psychologically damaged in some profound way. They had negative relationships with their parents when they were very young, and were discouraged from openly showing their feelings or emotions. They were forced to feel ashamed of who they were. Some were abused in different ways.
Mostly, they cut themselves because it is how they choose to express themselves. For these people, it is not about getting any attention. They show nobody, they hide their secret from the world, and are looking for an alternative way to express their thoughts and emotions because they know it is not healthy. When they get scared, they cut. When they are sad, they cut. When everything is going well for them, they cut. We might laugh or cry as a typical reaction to any given situation, they do not. And there are many different forms of self abuse.. pulling out your hair.. burning yourself.. hitting yourself.. some have very extreme manifestations and break their own bones. Self abuse is self abuse. It is an inability to express themselves in a 'normal' way. It is their emotional outlet. When they get stressed out by what is going on in their life, they dont write in diaries, or paint, or write poetry, or exercise to relieve their stress. For them it is difficult having honest, open conversations with friends and family.. so they find comfort in isolating themselves a lot of the time.
They are typically very emotionally confused. There is a lot going on in their minds that they lack the ability to rationalize in a heathy way. They dwell on things that are beyond their control, rather than accepting a situation for what it is, and letting it go.
They are not suicidal about it, they have a healthy fear of dying and know that if they cut too deep, it might be their last.
But, the main reason is that they want to keep their secret.. They would have to hide the evidence or ask for a ride to the hospital and their secret would be known. They cut to feel.
The interesting thing is almost all are female, and they really love getting tattoos... makes sense.. and it is good for them to have found an open way to express themselves.

Answer 3

They do it for attention and this way they are in control. Nobody else is dictating what to do and sadness and depression and feelings of your no one take over here. They feel like there is no life for them and they feel frustrated and useless. Everybody at one time has a low in there life, most of us can recover but some of us have a difficult time bouncing back and the results somtimes leads to cries for help. And hopefully hope and help are given. Be strong.

Answer 4

This is a result, usually, of depression, and should be regarded as a call for help. People are often building up the courage to do something more drastic, and the message is 'see I can do this'. There are on occasion people who do this to show off, and eventually kill themselves by accident.

Answer 5

I did it as a teen, well I burnt myself and didn't cut but partly I did it because I was frustrated and I felt I had no one to talk to even though I did. I also partly did it because I felt if I didn't hurt myself I most likely would have done it to someone else. Ah man I hated being a teenager..

Answer 6

They feel pain within and the only way they feel that they can realese it is to cut themselves. Its not about being selfish. They feel if they cut themselves they desevere to feel the pain they are feeling

Answer 7

If they are really fed up with there lifes and depressed.

Answer 8

they are so selfish they have to look at their own blood