Out of curiosity...?

Question

On average, how many cuts does a self harmer usually make in a 'session' of cutting? it's just that last night i made nine cuts (yes i know, failure as i'm trying to stop), most didn't even bleed, so was this extreme? (and yes i know that really all self harm is extreme.) just wondering...

ryan - why did i admit it? coz unless you've missed all my other questions and answers it's obvious anyway. and also, coz it's part of me. i am ashamed of it, but i'm sick of hiding everything, and i think people should be more aware of it - taboo makes the problem worse.

Hey xhollyx182 - that's really good. i'm now keeping count of how many days i can last. before those cuts i had reached 10 days. getting somewhere i spose, though i wasn't so low over that time, which is probably why.

Answer 1

Self harm feels like the only way of knowing youre alive to watch yourself bleed, some people only need to do one to release the tension their feeling. Others can cut themselves 30 or 40 times, it all depends on personally how a person is feeling

Answer 2

Taboo it is... and its a real shame because there is an incredibly large number of people who self-harm, all for varying reasons. Have you been to find out about a diagnosis of depression?

Each self-harmer is different so you could never really put a number on the amount of harm they do each time.
You know within yourself when you've gone too far.. saying that, its all pretty bad news in the long run.

Don't call yourself a failure by the way...for most it takes a long time to stop completely. And that normally happens when other issues in a persons life start to make more sense. Hope you have someone to talk to about the self-harm and other things that are troubling you... That really does help.

Answer 3

I used to self harm but haven't done it for 3 years now, one less problem for me to worry about lol. I still have very slight scars which anyone else wouldn't be able to see unless really close up to my arm.The most i cut myself in a "session" was proberly about 5 times but it vary's amongst different people depending on your problems. Like you i never really cut deep enough to bleed, and it wasn't something i did every time when i was feeling down etc, i did it more for attention. It was easy to stop aswell, i know for some people it isn't simple but i was never that obsessed with cutting myself. Keep yourself strong and dont go back to self harming, it scars you for life and it's really not the effort.The best way to release emotion is through talking, either to a councellor, parent, gp, social worker etc etc.All the best.

Answer 4

usually between 2-9 i would make at once they would always be deep and the would always bleed really bad. yeh, i used to count the days also to see how long i could last. first it would be 2 days, a week, 10 days, then i went to a week in a half, 3 weeks, a month, and then i went 6 months, and finally i was clean almost a yr then i relapsed again. ive now be clean for 3 weeks now. its hard to quit when ur used to using cutting as a coping maganism. but, im doing my best to try and quit. if ud like to talk u can email me or im me. take care and good luck.

Answer 5

depends on the level of anger. Ive seen girls cut hundreds of times in one sitting (temper cutting) or building up to a spectacular cut (premeditated cutting)or the teeniest cut and a simple red mark can suffice (relief cutting). You sound like you are at the last stage and things can only be better in that sense. It maybe just breaking the habit now.
Some folk iv'e nursed are not happy until the are covered, others it takes just the one.
Try getting some blood capsules from any joke shop, cover your arm with clay, insert the blood capsule and cut that. For some the endorphins released are their reasons for cutting and for others it is the sight of blood that triggers relief, it does not have to be your own blood.
You really need to address the abuse you suffered at the hands of others, before you look at the abuse you inflict on yourself, and realize you may be not benefitting yourself carrying on the cycle of abuse.
Someone told me how they broke their cycle of abuse, basically something bigger and more abusive came along and they then just wanted to protect and stop hurting themselves.

Answer 6

1-5 in a bout, more if I am not cutting well and merely scratching the surface. I get more satisfaction out of the deeper cuts, they bleed more, rub on clothes and you can feel them there for over a week afterwards to I don't cut that deep again for awhile.

Answer 7

i self harm, and well how many cuts i do depends on how much of a mood im in... i would say though, you should get help!
i mean...
i know how hard it is,
and people dont understand why people would do it,,,
try this website www.nshn.co.uk it really helps me when i get the urge or feel bad...
its a start of some kind of support and they will advise you more,, xxxx

Answer 8

It depends i only know from my experience, i either make 2 to 3 deepish cuts, or about 5, not so deep cuts.

Answer 9

one of my friends used to self harm .. she usually done alot of cuts in her arm. in a session .. and its the same with her most of them never bled but she started cuttin deeper and deaper which made things even worse coz she was starting to do it even more. aventually me and some of my friends talked to her and helped her though it and she slowly stopped cutting herself shes much happier coz she opens up to us now when she has problems .. bassically just tell some1 the doctors a really good friend or someting just stop doing it .. you might even end up in hospital in the futre losing to much blood ..

Answer 10

My daughter has been doing this for a year and it varies. At one time there must have been 30, but it has slowed down too as she has practically stopped now. I hope your parents do know about this as they can help - honest.

I think my daughter has finally stopped for good as I gave her more support and started to talk to her again.