cutting, why do you do it?

I had cut because it distracted me from my emotional pain. While I focused on the act of cutting, feeling the pain, sometimes feeling nothing, seeing the blood, looking inside the cut, I was distracted from the pain of the emotional stuff. I was in therapy, but as you know, that brought up that emotional pain in order for me to work through it. I had just developed this unhealthy coping skill, that I thought was working. But of course, it was only temporary each time. It only helped releave the pain for a few hours and then I was right back in the depths of my pain again.

But you need to know that, for each person that cuts, they may have diff. reasons. Mine was a common reason. Others did it, to feel real. Maybe they weren't able to feel anything, and that help them feel something.

The only way to stop is to learn alternate ways to self soothe. I went into DPT classes and got alot of skills. But Listening to your clients and making sure they feel safe with you is ESSENTIAL! They need to build a good support system outside of therapy also. To have someone to call. The rubber band on wrist thing does not work! Holding ice in your hands when you need to cut can work. You might look into DBT yourself, and find some options. I hope this helps you and most important, that precious child.

It numbs the pain, stops the noise in my head, makes me feel something, about a million different things depending on what I need. Sometimes I want to cut for no reason at all. I've read that it is a coping mechanism that some people develop when all else fails and I as far as I can tell it's true. The only alternative is to help the person develop better coping mechanisms. If you take the cutting away without providing an alternative you leave them defenseless. You'll have to help your client get in touch with themselves so they can see what's getting to them and then see if you can help them find a better way of dealing with things, and it'll take time. Don't know what else to say.

the cutters that i have known it was like an addiction that was very hard to break. they also did it out of control issues it was something that they could control and it was the only way to make the pain of what was going on go away. this is form what i have heard a very difficult issue. I'm gathering that you are a therapist so maybe try looking on some cutters web sites or maybe if it is really bad consider hospitalization. I'm just not sure if there are any alternatives other than intensive therapy. good luck I hope this helps a little

Cutters have deeper issues. Mine is sexual abuse. I wasn't in control of the pain then and when I feel pain now, it truely doesn't compare.

Cutting does compare, which is scary because finding an alternative to pain, is pain. My point is, there is no alternative. Either you really work on the issues and know that the cutting will stop or you stay in that hopeless cycle and do like the Yahoo-er mentioned and find that M-1 rile.

I cut

I heal

I seek to be better

I use to be very good at putting up walls. So i would not feel anything. I just told myself what i felt. I use to cut to be able to feel. If you know what i mean. It is also a way of coping with situations that seem so out of hand, so big. There are emotional problems that can come from many and all different angles.

Most times the person feels, mad, very confused, helpless, ready to burst......they think about dying, dont want too and cant bring themselves to do it so they cut instead. Very complex as im sure you have discovered. It is really hard trying to get someone to talk about what they are honestly feeling and thinking.

Hope you can make some head way with your patient.

I agree with the first person that responded. Alternatives would be omega 3's, write down feelings, doing charity work so you won't focus on your own problems and see that some people have it worse than you do. Exercise helps. Instead of cutting try tattoos.

i cut because emotional pain was so big that I wanted to know why I hurt. When I cut I could see a mark... I could see why I was hurting. Your brain can't always understand why your hurting but being able to see the cut helped it connect the dots (so to speak) I stopped when my friends found out. I felt guilty for making them worry and I started getting help from a councilor.

Although no one really knows for SURE why people cut themselves cept for the cutters, I think its because they are suppressing emotions, feelings, thoughts, or even memories or recollections. A way to deal is to find something you can pour your whole heart into, as well as finding some QUALITY friends who care for your wellbeing and not their own social needs.

I don't cut, but I've heard that self-mutilation is the only way the cutters can feel pain. They kind of unknowingly numb themselves to life, and they then WANT to feel something...so they begin to cut.

we cut ourselves because it relieves pain and for some people it feels better to cut themselves then to actually feel what they are going through whether it's peer pressure,grief,personal problems, etc.

well to make someone stop, you have to either get professional help or just confront them and tell them that you want to help and be really sincere when you talk to them. when you chose to help them, you have to let them tell you want is going on in their lives that is making them cut.

i hope this helps!