What is the psychological significance of "cutting" one's self?

Answer 1

Some people do it as a way to relieve their emotional pain. They are unable to verbalize it or do something productive with it, so they injure themselves. Others do it as a form of punishment - If they think people don't like them, they cut themselves because they are not good enough. Or they cut themselves because they didn't do something right. Others do it to make themselves feel "real".. a lot of people feel so numb from their emotions that they need to cut and see blood to know they are alive.

However, there are many other reasons why people cut and they are not so clear cut.

Answer 2

Personally, the physical pain releaves the mental pain. I don't do it nearly as often as I used to (only once in the past 14 months as opposed to as often as once a week when I was younger) but it's kind of the same as people who hit punching bags or even punch through walls and such when they're frustrated. You have so much emotional aggravation that you don't know what to do with and you need to release it somehow. So when you cut, it's like the blood is your pain bleeding out. Drugs only numb the pain but it comes back but for some reason, cutting seems to actually take it away. If I'm at that point where nothing else will work, it will make me stop crying or stop being angry and be able to move on from whatever problem I was having.

Every cutter is different though. You're never going to get a general answer to any kind of question like this because each person has their own reason for doing something like this.

Answer 3

It provides a way to escape from the pain. It allows the person to release their feelings in what is often times the only way they know how. The act of cutting releases chemicals in the brain that make us happy. They're the same chemicals released when you run, like a runners high. Of course it is not as simple as that otherwise everyone would just go out and run to make themselves feel better. The significance differs from person to person. It all depends on what kind of pain the person is feeling and why they are feeling it.

Answer 4

It's a rush. The brain chemical endorphin, which is sometimes called "natural morphine", is released when someone has an injury that is painful. You might notice when you get a serious injury that it may not hurt as much as you expected it to--that's the effect of endorphin.

People generally cut because they like the rush of endorphin they get; they feel so bad most of the time that it gives a temporary "high."

Some people might do it to attract attention; but I think most of them do it for the endorphin high.

I used to do it when I was young. I thought it felt good at the time.

Answer 5

Survivors of childhood sexual abuse sometimes cut themselves. I don't think it is a sign of weakness at all, it's just another way of coping .. albeit a harmful way. But then so are other things like drug addiction, workaholicism, alcoholism, over eating .. survivors of child abuse often use these either to escape their pain or as someone mentioned, to feel a different pain to the one they're feeling. Somehow there's a need to hurt oneself, or to self-destruct or self-sabotage.

Not everyone who cuts themself is a survivor of sexual abuse, and not every survivor cuts themself (I'm a survivor and I don't). But I think quite a few cutters are abuse survivors. Facing and healing from the childhood issues helps a lot in stopping this. Generally I would recommend therapy that specifically focused on looking at the childhood. Without that, just focusing on the present "problem" which I see as a symptom not a problem in itself, won't really have long term success.

Answer 6

Some people do it for attention. Not always is it for attention, but quite often. Sometimes people do it because they feel they should punish themself by self harming. Others, like me a few years back, did it to focus on a different pain then the pain their feeling. It truly doesn't work or fix anything and can become addicted. It's honestly a really stupid way to deal with things and I realized when I use to do it that is was a mistake.

-Kari

Answer 7

It is to release emotions. People who cut themselves think that they are ridding of the bad feelings that they have. And some people get a rush out of it...

Answer 8

its for weak people...i am sorry..but i am weak
i cant take the stress
some may switch to drugs or smoking or alcohol
but cutting is just another way to relieve stress and destroy ur body

also,trust me no one would ever cut for attention..as assumed by many
if a person needs attention he might do something wild or crazy but would never have the guts to run a blade deep down his/her wrist

Answer 9

If not to commit suicide, in one word..........Sympathy.