Other than the fact that it scars your skin?\nWhy do people look down on the habit and the people who do it? Why are people considered "psycho" if they cut themselves?
129393
as a cutter myself i have to tell you it is wrong, but i can't tell you to stop cuz i still cut.\n\ni read something the other day by another person that we as cutters have external scars, but think of alcoholics, they have internal scars on their livers, is that much different?  i chose a blade instead of a bottle, is that much different?\n\nam i "phycho" cuz i hurt myself?  i hurt no one else?  i commit no murders, no hit and runs either by accident, sorry, it's true, yes?\n\ni plan my cuts, i don't cut deep, i don't cut near veins, i do what i need to do to release internal pain and build up, i get what i need and that's that.  and if it hurts for someone to see a scar, well though sh*t.\n\nmeds and therapy just don't cut it for me, they don't do the job 100% after all these years.  and i've self-injured since i was a child in one way or another.  just that now i dominantly cut.  if i get a bruise i may make it worse, even though i did not initially self-inflict it.\n\nanother thing i do, but love it, is the pain of getting a tattoo, but that's expensive and also looked down on sometimes in society.  i'm labelled no matter what i do.  and when i get a tattoo and it does not hurt, i get upset, disappointed.\n\nso i say, let me do what i want to do, i'm not dumb, i've gone to doctors if it has needed medical attention.
440061
You know what, you sound so much like me it's not even funny.  But really it's just an excuse.  I completely agree that cutting isn't any worse than smoking.  It probably does less damage to your body, and it's definitely less addictive.  But it's still addictive, and it still hurts your body.  Just because smoking is socially acceptable doesn't mean it's a good thing to do, and it definitely doesn't mean that cutting is a good thing to do.\n\nYes, cutting does work.  For a while.  And then the cuts stop hurting and it all comes rushing back.  So you cut again.  And again, and again, until there's no where left to cut.  It's not a permanent solution.  It doesn't solve your problems any more than going out and getting drunk, or high or stoned solves your problems.  It just lets you forget them for a little while.\n\nIt might take away your pain tonight, but what about tomorrow when you have to get in the pool for PE and there are cuts all over your arms?  Or when you want to look nice for a special occasion and there are scars all over your arms and legs?  Or when you can't wear short sleeves in the summer because people will stare at your arms, or your parents will find out.  What happens when you're applying for a job, and every prospective employer can see written all over your body that you have a history of depression?  Do you really think anyone wants to hire someone who they see as mentally unstable?  Like it or not, society doesn't approve of cutting, so you either have to hide it or face social ostracization.  Neither one is a very attractive option.\n\nI'd be hypocritical if I told you to stop cutting, but believe me you don't want to go down the "it's ok to cut" road any more than you already have.  I've been there and it's not really a very nice place.\n\nThe other problem with cutting is that band-aids are really f***ing expensive if you buy them often enough.
551824
I don't know why, but it seems that there are many people who simply enjoy hurting others.  I suspect it stems from them feeling powerless and insecure, so they get a small charge to their own egos when they can make someone else feel bad. \n\n There are, also, others who simply take advantage of people - they see goodness and kindness as a kind of weakness they can exploit for their own means.\n\nDon't let this turn YOU bitter, though.  Remember to tell yourself that those people, in the end, will suffer for it when they find they lack solid, real and loving friendships in their lives.
181832
I would say it is a sign of self-hatred. Hair is very important for one self-esteem and when that is gone..a preclude to the ultimate act of self-loathing.\n\nMany movies who show disturbed young people (like in Wild Orchid) also show them cutting their head off upharzardly. A sign of rebellion also in some cases, I would say.
559151
It is becuse people are miserable and misery loves company. When people hurt they want others to hurt. That is why Hitler did what he did.\n\nFor more detail on this and what you can do about it to help yourself, see below site with latest psychology research on this. It is a new religion.
361778
Cutting yourself is not always a cry for attention, and it's not lame. People who cut themselves seriously usually have deep, emotional issues and need help. Most of them can't do it alone. Tell someone. Reach out. Get help. Talk to a doctor. You deserve to be happy, without pain.
328981
It's pretty simple. Everyone knows they're not supposed to run with scissors because it's dangerous. We teach our children to never do that. It's one of the first things they learn when they're old enough to know.\nRunning with scissors has become synonymous with bucking the rules (since we're all told not to do it, we know better) and people who do it are seen as "dangerous" and "rebellious."  It's basically just used metaphorically, not literally.
334563
I think that the reason why they do it, is to make themselves feel better. But really in the end they just make themselves look like jerks. Dont be afraid to stand out, its always better to make your own path than to follow others.
184910
Cutting is often reported by those who do so, as a form of "release" from actually feeling NOTHING AT ALL. For others, it is an attempt to redirect the pain.  Some others do use it as a form of self punishment. It depends. Whatever the reason, it is not always just a representation of childhood grievances; like one of the others here said, you can have a fine childhood. BUT, if you have a mental illness which can be purely organic/biological then cutting is a symptom of some pretty serious personality disorders. Either way, a cutter's suffering is great and should not be taunted because of it. Many go to great lengths to hide it and are ashamed.  If you know someone with this behavior, they need help and support soon. People who are cutters have a very high rate of suicide, although the cutting itself does not often represent a suicide attempt but some have accidentally resulted in such because they cut too deep.
90645
Self-harm, mostly.  I am quitting in "baby steps".   I stopped self-cutting, but still self-biting and self-punching.  At least I see that as a small improvement from cutting.  :-/   I also abuse diet pills.  Again "baby steps".  That is an improvement from laxative abuse.  :-/\n\nI am working on it, I am working on it!!!! :-p
248264
Some people commit suicide because they aren't accepted in their society [like if they're gay or "ugly"], or thats what most of them think. Some people at my school cut themselves cause they think its cool o.o i thikn the best way to deal with pain and sadness is to talk to someone
275089
You can't though can you?  Make them belief something because that is what you want.  If they have themselves belief you cut for attention they are either narrow-minded or you need to be truthful to yourself and ask yourself why you really cut because cutting because you hate life just don't make sense to me.\nYou should ask yourself the question what it is in your life that makes it so unbearable and makes you hate it.  \nI agree hating life makes you suicidal.  But cutting because you hate it is only transferring the pain.  So you don't really hate life when you cut but just the pain that life is causing you and the cut distracts from that pain because the physical pain overpowers the mental pain.  Also i think you release 'feel-good' hormones when you cut.
232884
Here's my answer to that:\nHumans pick on it because it's become a fad and a cliche. Of course everyone feels - but you'd be surprised how many people are openly emotional without having to dress it up in nailpolish and expensive eyeliner. Cutting has also become a fad - if you're open about it, and showing it to the world, honey, you're not actually depressed, you just want attention. I have seen so many people who cut themselves, I've become very good at identifying who's genuinely in more pain than they can handle, and who's just doing it to be cool or get attention they feel they need. And, believe it or not - not everyone thinks that goths worship the devil. Most people think WICCANS worship the devil though. That's completely different - a religion versus a clothing style. You're probably going to dismiss everything I say, but hear you this: I used to dress the same way, so I know this line of thought. By the way - you're being rejudiced by assuming that "everyone" is fake and that they presume the things that you have presumed they do. A tad hypocritical, yes?\n\nAlso, not everyone else is fake. Wearing trendy, gothy clothes (but only the ones that are in fashion in the goth world, mind you), painting your nails and doing your hair in funky dos to fit in with the label isn't exactly being true to yourself. Being true to yourself involves rolling out of bed because YOU want to, putting on clothes that make YOU happy, that YOU like - not clothes that others say you should wear because it's part of your label. And you cannot deny it, you are labeling yourself. And if that's who you truly are, and you're happy with that (which you can't possibly be (happy, that is) if you're a cutter. And, don't get me wrong about the cutting thing: I do understand. I've been there, and I've watched others go through it - hell, I still AM watching them.) Normally I would say hey, do your thing, but your post is technically a direct attack on everyone, and thus it's an indirect attack on me and those I love, and I feel a need to defend us. So thus I'm doing my best to cut down your argument. I'm all for allowing yourself to feel, but I don't think that you should make a show, or a style, or anything but emotion out of it. Bear in mind you also might not truly be "emo" - you're only labeling yourself as such. And, back to the cutting, if you cut yourself only because your label states that's how you must cope with how you feel, then I must confess I feel a large amount of ire towards you. You take help away, you cheapen it, from people who really do either need/want help, or are in more pain than is natural, just so you can have someone say "awww I'm so sorry! you must be so sad!" and fawn all over you. To drive this point home: I'm not saying that's what you do, but it is what some people do. I have nothing against the styles, some of them are pretty cool - it's the exploitation of others through your own so-called "unbearable pain" that drives me up a wall to the point where I'd want to poke fun at the stereotype.\n\nOn top of that, cutting is dangerous. I'm sure you know why, I'm not going to assume you're stupid and don't realise that there are lots of arteries and veins you could hit, a large risk of infection, etc.\n\nHumans also pick on it because it's inherant in their nature. Not that I'm not human, and I'm guilty of picking on the stereotype as well.\n\nAnd as for my sources - I don't know if you're going to prejudge my education in the field of psychology, but I'm going to set up my response in defence to that prejudgement pre-emptively, to save time if you do. Psychology isn't what media or stereotype makes it out to be. It focuses mainly in learning how people work, not merely on psychopathology. It's truly fascinating.\n
636925
Yes, I cut myself to release stress, frustration, and other things I can't deal with any other way.  Whatever people say, it works.  But it also has some unfortunate consequences.  For example, I'm working in New York this summer, where it's currently close to 90˚F (or it was during the day anyway), so the whole wearing long sleeves every day thing isn't so much fun.  And I'll be in real trouble when I'm in Mexico later this summer and want to be able to go swimming with my family, who don't know I cut (and aren't going to).  There's also the potential for infection and the likelyhood of scars.  That, and bandaids are really f***ing expensive.  But probably the biggest problem is that it's addictive.  When I first started cutting, I could have stopped any time I wanted to (or at least, I felt like I could).  Three years later, I've tried to stop and failed.  I can sometimes even go a couple months without cutting.  So the bottom line is don't start, and if you already have, get out while you can.\n\nInstead of hurting yourself, try taking whatever it is you'd use to hurt yourself (especially if you cut yourself), and apply it to cardboard instead.  If your particular form of self-harm involves bleeding, try drawing on your skin in red pen or marker.  I've also heard that snapping a rubber band against your wrist can help, but I found I just wanted it to hurt worse and I just made me want to cut more.\n\nYou're right that you need someone to help you.  You should talk to a doctor (personally, I've thought about going to the campus health center several times, but have yet to work up the nerve to actually do it), or if you're in your teens, a parent, teacher or other trusted adult, or if you're older, a close friend.  I know it's hard to ask for help (believe me, I've spend three years not being able to make myself do it), and if you want someone to talk to in the mean time you're welcome to email me at emilyrose1986@yahoo.com.
147030
you need to get help. you can't stop if you don't want to stop. cutting is very unhealthy. seriously, the only way you can stop is to want to and to get help so you don't have to do it on your own. there are support groups.
281572
http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/cutting.html\n\nCheck this link out.\n\nCalling someone who cuts "emo" or "stupid" doesn't help the situation. Self Cutting is a very serious and real mental illness and not a joke or matter of intelligence. You aren't a LOSER if you are self cutting, you simply need some help and counseling. You need to discover or talk about WHY you are cutting so you can learn ways to avoid the emotions that make you do this to yourself.  When you see someone talking about doing something to themselves, try to be a little more understanding. People with this and other conditions, often cannot help themselves.\n\nExample: There is a woman who has a PHD and is highly intelligent, but also as Asperbers syndrome (high function autism). If she is not watched carefully, she will eat glass. She can't help it. She can't stop it. It is something in her brain that makes her do what she does. Treatment helps with control, but people with these ailments cannot be held at fault for their conditions.\n\nThink of this, what ever has made this young woman cut herself, would you like to go through it? For all you know she survived a traumatic event that would have killed you outright. You just don't know.\n\nI hope that the link helps with the asker of this question and those of you reading it.
269729
I don't know. But if you are cutting yourself at all, you need to tell someone (like a parent or doctor). This isn't "normal behavior", and could signify that you are suffering from a chemical imbalance in the brain that causes depression, among other things. Why do you cut yourself? Do you feel "relief" (from "anxiety, perhaps?)? How do you feel about your life, are you a happy person? Or do you "blame yourself" for lots of things (that are likely not your fault, although you may think otherwise)? Please talk to someone about this. If you are afraid to talk to someone you know, you can call anonymously to a counseling office. You can talk to me.\n-Tera (time4u420@yahoo)