why do people do cutting? i mean like i know dey do it because they upset about life... but....?
395814
It's alot more than just cutting yourself. Many people do it because you need to feel, and they become emotionally numb. Self Injury, SI, is common believe it or not, many people do not advertise the scars or use medicine to help heal the wound to cover it up. All of my scars can easily be covered by shorts and a tee shirt. The worst thing you can do is be negative to the person. It sometimes is the only thing that can make you feel alive! I do not agree it is about the pain, most of the time you do not feel pain, it is more about the blood. People who SI usually do it more than once, they dont die the first time. A common misconception is that is is a call out similar to suicide. SI does not mean the person is suicidal! SI is different for many people, men and women both SI. If you are interested in more information I have included a website below that should help. The website was written by SI's for SI's and their families and friends. I'll put this question on my watch list if you have anymore questions please ask.
1047951
Cutting is primarily associated with Borderline Personality Disorder.  Perhaps you could look it up for further information.
1090774
It's a disturbing idea that someone would actually cut into their own bodies as much as if you were doing it to others.  It's also a sign of mental instability.  In the military, who would want to team up with someone who had such deep seated issues?  If a person does have the urge to cut themselves, they should seek help through a therapist to deal with the underlying problems.  Cutting is not the answer, just like alcoholism or drug abuse.
308714
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.
224151
Obviously they don't like themselves at all - so they take it out on the ones that are closest to them . I bet that the man thinks and wants someone do that to him . You know like people who hit themselves - it's to let the other person know that they are already hurting (inside), so it does'nt matter if they hurt them or not . Like  " watch this everyone I can be abusive ! "
861272
I try to reach their humanity or the oppositte side of their brain...here is what I mean....they are probably angry and enraged and aggitated to reach this current state... I tell them I understand their being upset however, what they are about to do will only make it worse and will magnify the problem ruining 2 lives in just a moment. I try to connect with their reasoning, that all though it seems like lashing out feels good ...nothing good will ever become of it.....and this act...They will spend the rest of their life regretting....You have a choice...Make the right choice now....
61079
In my experience, most people that go out of their way to make others miserable are doing it to make themselves feel superior in some way.  If they cut down your clothes, it makes them feel better about how they're dressed.  If they point out how miserable your life is, it makes them feel like theirs must not be so bad.  Not a way I want to go through my life.  Spread the joy!
29375
I used to be a cutter.  I would do it becuase I would have so much emotional pain, cutting myself would hurt physically so it would take my mind of my emotional problems, instead I could focus on the physical pain.  \n\nI stopped becuase I went to a psychiatrist and got medication for depression.  That helped A LOT!!!\n\nAs far as what to say to your friend... my friends never knew what to say to me (my best friend talks about it with me a lot now that I don't do it anymore).  I actually scared them a lot.  Maybe just let your friend know that it scares you when they hurt themselves.  Then try to get them to go get help for it.  You can talk about the underlying issues, but if they are at the point of cutting then unfortunately they most likely need professional help.  That is a sign of a psychological disorder.\n\nAt work I have seen several kids that do this.  They give reasons for doing it anywhere from my reason to wanting to see what it would do, to wanting to kill themselves and just "hoping i would cut deep enough".  \n\nSo like i said, talk to your friend.  Try to find the underlying issue, and get them help.  Be there for them.  Good luck.
1066707
I know exactly what you mean, when you have that feeling, you just want someone to sit and listen to you, and not judge you. Personally, I think it depends on the person you talk to, you need someone close to you, who knows a bit of what your going through, but who also knows that you aren't out just to get attention (this is most cutters main worry- and often this stops them from talking to people.) Explain your reasons for self harming and tell them that your not aking for their help- you can get this from professionals. You just need someone to listen and actually HEAR what your saying.
347748
Think about it, you're angry you hit a wall.  Well some people can feel so miserable (and for a good secret reason too) that they feel the need to do so, thus letting all the pain break free.\n\nIt's like a small pain.  Eat candy and you're suddenly better.  Cutting is a destraction of one's life that can be controlled. Not suicide!\n\n\n-Alexis
724735
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/self-injury/DS00775\nSelf-injury/cutting\nIntroduction\n\nFor people who can't fathom deliberately hurting themselves, self-injury may seem shocking and frightening. But for people who do injure themselves by cutting or other means, self-injury offers a momentary sense of calm and a release of tension. Unfortunately, that's usually quickly followed by guilt and shame and the return of other painful emotions. And with self-injury comes the very real possibility of inflicting serious and even fatal injuries.\n\nSelf-injury isn't a specific disease or condition. Rather, it's a type of abnormal behavior. It may accompany a variety of mental disorders, such as depression and borderline personality disorder. Because self-injury is often done on impulse, it's sometimes considered an impulse-control behavior problem. Self-injury is also known as self-harm, self-injurious behavior and self-mutilation.\n\nAlthough it's hard to estimate how many people engage in self-injury because some never seek treatment, it's thought that about 3 percent to 5 percent of Americans have deliberately hurt themselves at some point in their lives. Self-injury may be more common — and on the rise — in adolescents.\nSigns and symptoms\n\nWhat self-injury is and isn't\nSelf-injury is behavior in which people deliberately harm their own bodies in some way to cope with overwhelming emotions. Self-injury frequently is an impulsive act. You may become upset and spontaneously seek a way to hurt yourself, recklessly doing damage to your body. Other times, self-injury may be inflicted in a controlled, methodical manner. You may even plan it in advance, taking steps to avoid detection and to prevent infections.\n\nSelf-injury isn't the same as injury that arises from culturally sanctioned practices in some parts of the world, including scarring, piercing and tattooing, which historically have been considered forms of self-mutilation. Self-injury is distinguished from such practices by the emotional intent behind it — it's an unhealthy coping method for overwhelming feelings.\n\nSelf-injury also isn't the same as a suicide attempt. For instance, someone may try to harm himself or herself by taking an overdose of medication, but stop short of taking a lethal dose. In self-injury, the intent isn't to die, but to inflict bodily harm. However, self-injury can accidentally result in suicide.\n\nTypes of self-injury\nSelf-injury is most commonly associated with cutting, which involves making cuts or scratches on your body. Cutting can be done with any sharp object, including knives, needles, razor blades or even fingernails.\n\nMost frequently, the arms, legs and front of the torso are the targets of self-injury because these areas can be easily reached and easily hidden under clothing. But any area of the body may be subjected to self-injury.\n\nSome people don't feel pain while they're hurting themselves, even when creating deep cuts. Others do find self-injury painful but welcome the pain as a punishment or as a distraction from emotional turmoil.\n\nThere are many types of self-injury besides cutting, and someone may engage in one or more of them. Other types of self-injury include:\n\n    * Burning\n    * Poisoning or overdosing\n    * Scratching\n    * Carving words or symbols on the skin\n    * Breaking bones\n    * Hitting or punching\n    * Piercing the skin with sharp objects\n    * Head banging\n    * Pulling out hair\n    * Interfering with wound healing\n    * Pinching\n    * Biting\n\nSome experts consider overexercising a form of self-injury, as well as stopping medication in an attempt to cause harm to yourself.\n\nSigns of self-injury\nPeople who injure themselves often try to keep their behavior secret. It may be difficult to spot signs of self-injury.\n\nSigns of self-injury may include:\n\n    * Scars, such as from burns or cuts\n    * Cuts, scratches or other
581033
Because they are miserable people themselves.  They aren't happy with their life, so they take it out on the rest of us.  Wish it wasnt that way though!!
847042
If you was walking down the street and saw somebody hitting there head against a brick wall, hard enough so that they started bleeding, you would think that something was seriously wrong with that person - and you would be correct.   \n\nCutting yourself is the same, it is self harm that is bought on by stress and the inability to cope and manage problems in a regular way.  \n\nIt causes ugly scarring but its main point is that it hides psychological scarring, that needs to be bought into the open so that you can maximise the enjoyment that life has to offer.
416009
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.
894494
I think it disturbs people to see someone harm themselves (cutting).  It is a sign of mental illness.  Even then though, people should not be mean about it.\n\nAs far as the gay, lesbian and bi... that is very different.  I agree with you this is a lifestyle choice and not a mental illness or a sign of something wrong.
495507
Most ppl cut to redirect their attention to a pain that is perceived as less than what is really troubling them.  #1 reason is that they have been abused (usually sexually).  Without proper therapy things will worsen!!
741545
Are you trying to stop? If so, congrats! That's a big first step to take =) Anyways...\n\nFirst, you should research the topic so that you have an idea of what you are dealing with, with some tips on how to deal with it, tell others, and such. It might give you some insight to why you hurt yourself as well. A sight that gives a basic description is  http://www.nmha.org/infoctr/factsheets/selfinjury.cfm  a good page with some links to other pages depending on what you need is http://teenadvice.about.com/od/cuttingbranding/  I would also suggest the site recoveryourlife.com  it is a site of self harmers, either who are trying to stop, have stopped and trying to keep from going back, or have stopped and want to help others quite. It's got a forum and a chat room. It is a very good site because it doesn't glorify or condone cutting (Such as saying things like "Cutting is awesome" or  "Do you know (celebrity name) cuts? that means its tight!"  or posting pics on the site for others to comment on and such. That doesn't mean the members aren't understand or cruel or whatever. They want to stop the problem, instead of encouraging it). \n\nA good thing to try is professional help. I got a counselor for my self harm issues, and he was understanding and helpful. Most councellors are not judgemental and do there best to help, though a few might not be able to help someone with self harm issues, just because they are not well trained in that area of psychology, but most are cool. He/she will help you uncover why you are hurting yourself, and try to stop the behavior. So i would suggest getting a counselor if possible, they can be a great help.\n\nAnother thing to do is to tell someone you love about this issue (if you haven't already). Self harming is a very hard thing to stop, much harder if you don't have someone helping you. Not trying to discourage you, it's just if you have someone helping and encouraging you along the way it is "easier" for you to quit. Tell someone you can trust and that won't judge you, and will listen to you. If you want to tell someone, here is a tip that will hopefully make it easier. (This is meant to be used in telling your parents, but it should work for anything really). You should write out a letter, explaining about the cutting, why you do it (if you know), some information about it (so that they can have an idea of what's going on), your point of view, etc... This allows you to get all of the things you want to get out out, so that you don't end up forgetting something if you tell someone straight forward. You can either give the letter to the person (or leave it somewhere they can find it), or use it as a guide to tell the person(s) directly. \n\nAlso, there are some tips to stop the urges to self harm. Here are a few:\n\n*Draw in red pen on the area where you usually cut yourself. *just ignore it and move on. ALL urges will pass in time, you just have to distract yourself until they do \n*Do something relaxing when you are stressed, take a warm bath, do a soduko, read a book, cross-stitch (that works for me) whatever makes you relax\n*Write in a journal how you feel when you want to hurt yourself, get your feelings out\n*Listen to music that either: 1. calms you down, makes you happy 2. music that talks about how you are feeling, like hurt, angry, etc... (be careful with this though, it could actually trigger you if you aren't careful)\n*Talk to anyone, not nessecarily about the cutting, just call up a friend to distract yourself.\n*Hit something (not yourself) like a pillow or something\n*Pray (if you are religious)\n*Just distract yourself in some way. The feelings will pass, you just need to give it time. \n\nThere are many more tips, but these are the ones i can think of off the top of my head. These are tips to deal with the feelings. Now some tips for the pain part. \n\n*Hold ice cubes in your hand. It gives you the pain