Cutting yourself makes you feel better?

Question

I just found out that someone I care about very much has been cutting themself. I do not understand why anyone would do that? Can you tell me why? And what can i do to help her stop?

Answer 1

The easiest way to explain it is that the physical pain sort of blocks out the emotional pain temporarily. Your brain can only focus on one thing at a time, so it's a distraction just like drugs and alcohol are to other people.

The first thing you need to do to help your friend is that you need to make sure that some adults know what she is doing. Do her parents know yet? She may hate you for telling, but you have to. It may save her life (if she is that depressed, suicide may not be too far behind the cutting). If you don't feel comfortable telling her parents, or they know and aren't doing anything, then you need to talk to a counselor or teacher at your school and they can help you get your friend the help she needs.

She will have to go to counseling and they may give her medication for depression and/or anxiety. You need to be supportive of her. Let her know that you are her friend and you are there for her. Like I said before, she may get very angry with you for telling on her, but don't let that stop you from being there for her. Things are going to be very tough for her and she needs to know that she has people that are there caring about her and supporting her.

Answer 2

Cutting dose seem to help, and the medical answer would be it helps because it release Endorphins . I've been cutting for almost ten years, and for me it started much the same as just cutting to feel better, or having something I could control. Some Place along the way though I forgot any healthy ways to cope with emotions. I'm pretty sure that's how the "emo" stereotype of cutting comes from people with strong emotions find self mutilation makes them feel a little better, I'd rather be called a cutter then an Emo....even if I fit the category

Answer 3

I used to cut on myself very severly where at times I was even hospitalized for injuries that I really didn't intend on. Now I am 30 yrs. old and have really ugly scars all over my arms that I get asked about constantly, especially by my kids...which, what does a person say?! It is nice that you are concerned, but the more you make a big deal out of it, the worse you could make your friend feel. It is hard to explain why it can make someone feel better, but it can. A peron that cuts has a lot of pain that they are holding in, and when they feel the physical pain on the outside, it allows you to forget about how you are feeling inside. It took me being on the right anti-depression meds to help me, or it may just take time. Just be a goo friend and let them know you are there if they ever need anything.

Answer 4

I used to do that.

Yes, it made me feel better at the time.

The brain sends out a natural pain killer: a neurotransmitter called endorphin. Some people with depression figure this out--they notice that they suddenly start feeling better when they experience some sort of physical pain. I know that doesn't make any sense to most people, but I think that's how it works.

I used to cut myself with razor blades. I also did other things to inflict pain that I'm not going to describe because I don't want to give anyone any ideas.

I got the idea because I had a girl friend in high school who was way crazier than me--she used to do it. That was back in the early 1970s.

After I started getting treatment for depression, I stopped doing that.

Maybe some people do it to attract attention, to say "hey, look how bad off I am" or to fit into a social group that cuts. But the main reason, in my opinion, is for the endorphin buzz.

I used to work in mental hospital, we had a girl who cut herself so many times her body was covered with scars. Somebody asked her why she did that and she answered "because it's the only time I really feel alive."

This kind of behavior has probably been around since the beginning of time. It was not invented by the pop culture idea of "emo"--it's the other way around. Animals even do this in certain situations. I had a dog who used to chew on his paw until it bled. I have heard of pet birds like parrots that start pulling out their feathers because their owners won't give them enough attention.

Answer 5

This habit tends to stem from physical or sexual childhood trauma. Both or either can or did cause a physical pain to this person and by cutting themselves they relive that point of pain and thus gain comfort in it. The question as to why pain would cause a comfort stems from the way children view the home they grow up in.
To us as human beings, our home is equivalent to love. If there is trauma and chaos in the home when we are in our formidable years, then that is what will unfortunately give us comfort and be what we seek as adults because that trauma has become our definition of love.

What you can do i this person is close enough to you, is to discuss the idea of therapy with them and see how they react. If they seem interested or somewhat uncertain, you could find a councilor or therapist who specializes in childhood trauma victims (not one who is angry themselves, because this will only make matters worse) and then make a plan with your friend to see this person or take them there one day unannounced and tell them this is an opportunity to see things in a different light. If it is unannounced let them know that they have nothing to lose by simply talking to this person for an hour (or half an hour) simply to see if it provides them with some comfort.

Answer 6

I'm no expert, but people that are cutting themselves usually aren't doing it because it feels good. If that's the case then there's something seriously wrong with them. People that cut themselves are doing it to make a statement that something is very wrong in their life. They don't know how to deal with their problem other than to express buy cutting themselves that there is a problem, hoping that maybe someone will pick up on that and provide them with some help.

Answer 7

Your friends is suffering from a severe form of depression and self mutilation. Cutting takes the focus off the mental anguish they are feeling and puts the focus on the physical pain...something that they can control. I hope your friend is seeking help as this illness gets to be something that can last an entire lifetime. Try to be supportive but if you are uncomfortable with what they are doing please tell an adult, so that they can help. Your friend may not be please but you may actually prevent them from further harm. You are obviously a kind and caring person. Please know that you alone can not stop this behavior and you didn't not cause any part of it. This is a true mental issue that needs profession help.

Answer 8

If she experimenting with the pharmacy tell her dont do drugs! The girl obviously needs to be admitted, I'm sure by now she found out that being cut is painful. You can tell her to call me i'll make her feel better.

Answer 9

aaaw,well Some people that get very upset,sometimes they feel like they have nobody to turn to,or like nobody understands them..or other times they just have a lot of anger and sadness inside them and want to get it out and unfortunately some people turn to cutting themselves.However,when those people do it,they feel a release..like a weight coming off their shoulders!That's probably why she was doing it.you should try talk to her and get her to tell you everything that she feels!That's another way to feel the release,tell somebody you trust everything that's bothering you.so,se if that helps,i hope it works and good luck =)

Answer 10

Cutting changes psychological pain into physical pain which is more tangible. This person needs intense psychotherapy to see what is underlying - to see what she is trying to keep in her psyche. I wish you an your friend luck. The only thing that will get her to stop is seeking professional help.