Cutting my legs is controllable... is it still bad?

Question

I have been cutting for a year now. Most people say you can't do it in moderation, but my cuts have not gotten any deeper than they were, and my urges haven't been much bigger. Granted, it is addictive. I stopped for a couple months thinking it was over, but I started again. As much as people say this all the time, I honestly think I have it under control. This isn't a suicide attempt, to be honest, suicide scares me a lot. And I don't hate myself enough to do so, I actually like myself. It's merely liking the feeling I get afterwards. I don't think I'm closer to suicide than anyone else is, people just have different ways of relieving stress, such as writing, or running, which can still not be healthy if they are ignoring the problem. It's all how you deal with it emotionally, right? You may not understand, and I may not understand why eating relieves pain, or running a mile. I guess I don't understand...I'm just confused on the subject.

Answer 1

Cutting is not a cry for help. Cutting is used to feel pain locked inside of an individual. It brings it out. Validates. Often people dissociate when they cut having little memory of it. Usually cutting is precipitated by a triggering emotional event............

Cutting is a behavioral coping skill used to manage all sorts of stress etc. It is maladaptive.

My recommendation is to find a therapist and a psychiatrist to be evaluated for medications. You might have other issues that might be triggering you to cut. e.g. anxiety

There are many types of treatment programs for cutters. Check out your local mental health centers. They will have DBT/CBT programs/groups to help. In the meantime journal your thoughts and behaviors.

Good luck

Answer 2

Cutting is different than a cry for attention or an attempt at suicide. It is usual the person not being able to relieve there symptoms by any other fashion.

I have problems with cutting. When I find myself wanting to cut or having cut I get my little brother up and we talk for awhile. Just talk mind you. Nothing serious.

The best answer I can give you is to find another outlet if that doesn't work seek counseling. A therapist can be very helpful at this time.

Cutting can go wrong. You may not desire to make the deeper cuts , but it has bean known to happen on accident. A mental health worker I know told me about a case where a person was hospitalized and needed stiches. They never realized how badly they had cut themselves.

So seek some kind of help now. While you still are out of the hospital.

Answer 3

When you cut, your body releases a series of compounds that can give the brain a feeling that people can get addicted to. Kind of like the stop smoking commercials that show the neurons freaking out when they don't get what they want. The brain has neurochemical receptors for communicating and other functions. When the brain cells produce neuro receptors for one thing, like nicotine, then they feel deprived when those receptors are not filled.

An addiction is an addiction. You are succeding in minimizing the damage, but there is damage none the less. You probably don't need a therapist or Psychologist at this point.

You could try a 10 step program for addictions.

Then again, you could try to break the addictive cycle and go cold turkey. Stop cutting.

It has been said that cutting releaves depression. Depression is a shortage of the neurochemical Seretonin. Tryptophan provides what the brain needs to create Seretonin. Using milk, turkey and other foods that are high in Tryptophan can take the edge off of depression. Which could take the edge off of the urge to cut. Increased blood flow to the brain from exersise is also very very helpful.

Some people use starches to releave stress naturally (not going to get into more scientific explainations). Unfortunately, most starches go down better with fat, like potatoe chips, buttered bread, etc. That can make you fat, so be careful.

Answer 4

Cutting isn't healthy! Just because you can control it doesn't mean you should be doing it. Yes, people have different ways of dealing with stress, but I think cutting is an unhealthy one. You should try some other ways to deal with stress, even though it might not give you the same "feeling" that cutting does. Personaly carving up my body doesn't sound like a good way for me to deal with my problems. You should try doing activities (hobbies, sports, ect.) that might get it and your problems off of your mind.
I'm not saying that you should just push your problems away, because the best thing to do is confront them and try to fix them. It sounds like you aren't sure whether you want to stop or not, and I can't make that decision for you... keep in mind, though, that you may want to keep doing it even though you know it's not healthy. Good luck and I hope you make the right decision.

Answer 5

I used to cut and it is very hard to start. I liked it because the pain was a way to release stress. Now when i'm stressed i go on a bike ride or run and I push myself so hard that it hurts. Try doing something else to cause pain that is not as bad for u

Answer 6

Wow. I can see in a way what you are saying, I would start talking to a psychiatrist though. Big difference from eating food to relieve pain than cutting ones body parts.

Answer 7

You are right-no way of dealing with stress is acceptable if you don't deal with the underlying problem-which is what you are doing by saying you have this under control. You are using sharp objects to puncture your skin-how can that be OK in any way, shape or form? If someone else was doing it to you it would be illegal, has that crossed your mind?
Get some help.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

I think I understand bc I used to cut when I was extremely depressed, except I wouldn't use a razor or a knife - I would just scratch myself so that it would not scar but would leave a mark for a few days. I felt like all the pain I felt was in those scratches, and that it was like my own little secret that I got to keep. So when others hurt me I just had these cuts of mine that reminded me of my strength in some ways.

Answer 10

It can leave scars, both physically and emotionally. There are healthier ways of relieving stress, please try to find a different method to distract your urge to cut. Maybe reading, drawing, sculpting, taking walks, or even talking to other people.