cutter

its no different than getting a tatoo or an odd piercing, so why cant i do it? there used to be a time where i would only do it when i was mad or sad or feeling guilty, but now i love seeing the scars on my arms. i love making new ones. when the old ones fade, i make new ones. i cant stop now, im addicted. i usually do it the most when im alone, which is often b/c my friends never call and my only sis is away at college and my mom is always at her b/f's house. should i seek help? by the way, when i cut, its with a dull steak knife (clean) and it doesnt bleed, it just scabs and scars, so is it really that bad?

 

It is a problem, whether it bleeds or not. It isn't as much of a physical problem as it is mental.

And just because it doesn't bleed doesn't mean that it can't infect and grow bacteria, etc. whether the knife is clean or not.

Self-mutilation is a problem...even if it may not be a big deal now, if you keep using this "method" to deal with things, or make yourself feel better, it can spiral out of control.

I used to be a cutter as well. From a very young age, I was self-destructive when I was upset... I would slam my head against the wall when I cried, I would dig my nails into my arms, bite my lip so hard it would bleed, etc. Eventually it progressed to cutting with a dull knife, and then to a sharp knife, and then to a razor.

Ultimately I got help for it and quit because it hurt my loved ones and I knew I had a problem.

When I was recovering, I started piercing everything, which was just as bad, because I would do it on my own, whenever I got pissed or upset, and then I would end up getting infections and what not because of it. I eventually stopped doing that as well.

Scarification IS a type of body mod, which, I suppose if you're into that sort of thing, you can check into that--- but in ANY type of body mod, GET IT DONE PROFESSIONALLY.

Either way, I think there are some serious mental issues that need to be tackled if it has become such an addiction to you in which begun as a coping method.

Please see help, I really don't want to see anyone else suffering from this. Besides myself, I've witnessed many friends battling this same "syndrome" and it's very scary.

Good luck.

 

It's probably reflective of something not normal, yes.

 

what if i cant afford help right now? and my 'loved ones' dont give a sh*t?

 

Then you're pretty much stuck with trying to stop on your own. Life is hard sometimes.

But if you believe in free will, you can stop.

 

you don't need your "loved ones" to help you stop though...you should stop for YOU.

Yes, a big motive for me to stop was my loved ones, but I only did it for me. No one else. I knew it was a problem, and I couldn't continue with it, that's why I stopped. I knew I wasn't healthy. I knew it could lead to bigger, worse problems...

You mean to tell me you have no health insurance?
If you don't, get a job that offers health insurance.
Co-pays really are NOT expensive for therapy.
I pay only like 6 bucks a session for my counselor, and the rest is paid through insurance.

At least make an attempt, look around, talk to counselors, tell them your situation, and your financial situation... a good counselor will work with you on that. My counseling used to be a bit more expensive and when I told her that I might have to stop seeing her because I couldn't afford it anymore, she lowered the cost of my sessions, because she said she would rather me get help, than not. And I say a "good counselor" because if they are willing to work with you on your financial situation, chances are they are in the profession because they enjoy it, and want to help people...not just for the money. Therapists who are in it for the money don't usually help much anyway...I've encountered counselors like them.

And while I agree with spooner that it takes YOU to stop, I do think you still need someone to talk to, because the problem most likely exists because of something else that you're dealing with inside, and it takes more than just stopping the cutting to get in a healthy state of mind again... When you don't process your feelings, and learn to cope, and have someone to talk to about that, your cutting problem could possibly take form in some other way. Meaning, you might find another unhealthy "coping mechanism"
Which is equally NOT good.

There are plenty of ways to find counselors that will work with you financially...you just have to TRY.

 

Maybe the fact that you feel like your loved ones don't give a shit is your problem and it is what is leading to the cutting. Do they know you feel this way? Cutting is often a cry for help. People will deny it until they are blue in the face, but most cutters want people to know to feel sorry for them and make a huge fuss because their parents or whomever isn't paying attention to them. The problem is, is that it eventually becomes a habit because you are getting something out of it. That is what makes it even harder to stop.

I used to burn myself and I cut a couple of times, then I realized why I was doing it (because I wanted someone to realize what "they had done to me") and I realized I was doing it to myself, no one else was forcing me.

 

I agree it stems from a "victim" mentality.

 

first of all id like to say how much i appreciate your feedback a+o, it feels great to know that somebody is listening and trying to help.
the problem is that i have no insurance, and there are NO jobs around me that pay over 5.15, let alone even offer insurance. (see, i live in this teeny tiny town, if you sneeze while you drive past youll miss it) between my car repair bills and my cell bills and spending money on my new pup and gas money to drive an hour away every other day to go to a community college (no on-campus living...BOO!) and two root canals (ouch) i dont think i have money to see a counseler. do you know of any like free counsling programs? (that dont relate to church. i believe in God and everything, just not a fan of the church scene, too much of a business from what ive seen)

 

I'm not sure, but I can check into it...what state do you live in ? [assuming youre from the US]

I don't know about how it works for individuals that are not required or recommended to see a counselor, but I know that my fiancee got counseling for free because his probation officer recommended it, and he got it at a place that was city owned and basically taxes pay for it, so it was not required to pay.

I am sure there has to be some other way of going about it, so I'll look into it and let you know.

 

Totally agreed and if I were you lucyinthesky, I'd stop that right away, however you need to do it, the one thing YOU DON'T NEED TO DO is cut or hurt yourself!!!

 

Cutting is definitly different than tatooing, and peircing. Cutting is self mutilation. Tatooing isn't. I use to cut. Stop before somebody puts u in the hospital. There isn't any freedom in a hospital. Ask for help. I wish u the best. Lotsa Luck!

 

how did smoking become socially acceptable? not only are you giving yourself cancer, your giving every one else cancer too. and that is a hell of a lot worse than bleeding, or even infected cuts. how do you relieve stress? do you smoke? this is how i relieve stress. i cut. at least im not getting cancer, and its cheap. either way your harming your body.
this isnt an angry post by the way, i know it sounds angry, but its not, so please dont get offended. i know your just trying to help, i just dont get it. but i really do appreciate it. peace&love

 

Sure, more people view cutting as something worse than smoking cigarettes. Both of them are bad for you. Who cares whether one is more socially acceptable than the other, though? It's bad to do it. There are healthier ways of dealing with stress, and avoiding things like infected wounds is only a minor advantage to doing so. Most people cut for specific reasons, self esteem issues being at the top of that list, and the effects of working to correct that would have a positive impact in every area of life. Drumminmama gave some good advice; a school councilor is a good place to start, and there's tons of other places that could help too. I would suggest taking this question to a support group for cutters, you'd get better feedback from people who really understand what it's about.

http://gabrielle.self-injury.net/

 

It can get dangerous! What if u cut, too deep by accident? Even if ur careful there is a chance u could bleed to death. Smoking will kill you, which is true. Later in ur life u may regret the scars; especially if u have children, because they will ask about the scars. What are u going to tell them. U can't lie, but u also can't tell them u are a cutter. That is inappropriate. I know from my own expeirance that once u start obssesing about cutting u feel u can't quit. If u think that then u are setting urself up to failure. I am sorry if my words are harsh, but it is the trueth. If i can quit cutting u can cut quiting! It's not easy, but u got to do it. Starting this thread is part of the proccess. Now listen to all these replies and take action for urself noone else. I hope u take my advice and other peoples advice. Ask help from a therapist/doctor he/she will help u.*Huggs*
Peace&Love,
Patches
P.S. PM me. I can support u as ur peer.

 

i've been a cutter/burner for over 20 years. i've gone for stretches of years without relapses only to fall again. if you're just starting STOP. please. it's an addiction that takes root and latches on. i've been inpatient for this crap. i've hid from people for years. get help for yourself; you desrve to have a good life. if you can find counseling ask about DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy); it is a wonderful help. Peace

 

Oh hunny, first of all ...smoking became socially acceptable long before they ever proved that it was bad for your health. In fact, they used to believe that it had medicinal purposes [and it still does, very very rarely]

And let me tell you, as a smoker, I do not try to justify that its okay for me to smoke because it helps relieve stress. I mean, sure, it does, and its a huge part of why I have a difficult time quitting, or even getting motivated to quit-- BUT, I would never sit there and try to defend it...I know how terrible it is for me. I'm really ashamed of my smoking habit, and it is a terrible way to cope. All I am doing is hiding behind my issues, and not actually dealing with them the right way. Just like you.

Any smoker would say the same... that even if they enjoy it sometimes, or even if it helps them to cool off---I dont know any smoker that has been smoking for a while that is happy about their habit, or sticks up for it.

To me, it sounds like youre trying to justify your problem....

 

Here is my opinion on it. It obiviously seems to bring a pleasurable relieve when a cutter cuts themself so i don't see whats wrong with relief in this instence anyways. If done wisely (keeping infection out, control bleeding, etc) then only problem with it i guess would be upsetting loved ones.

I for one just can't stand the thought of cutting/hurting myself. If i were to cut myself i'd just fell pain and irritation. I think that people who cut themselves get a flow of endorphines when they do it. Sort of like eating hot sauce.

To the OP, be wise if your goung to cut yourself, and don't fuck up your health, to much anyways.

 

stop if you want to stop, its probably bad for you
it doesnt sound like your doing much damage
its your choice though and if your happy with yourself as a cutter then so be it
theres forums and stuff for cutters so maybe you should seek one out if you feel you need to talk to other people who do that, for understanding, support or whatever.