Many self-harmers do not even realize that what they do is self-harming.
Why do I cut myself? Have you ever questioned why you do it?
It is normal to feel angry and believe that you deserve to be punished. Once you have cut yourself you may well then face feelings of guilt and find it difficult to forgive yourself.
Injuring yourself on purpose by making scratches or cuts on your body with a sharp object enough to break the skin and make it bleed is called cutting. Cutting is a type of self-injury, or SI.
Some continue to cut into adulthood.
People may cut themselves on their wrists, arms, legs, or bellies. Some people self-injure by burning their skin with the end of a cigarette or lighted match.
When cuts or burns heal, they often leave scars or marks. People who injure themselves usually hide the cuts and marks and sometimes no one else knows. (What Is Cutting)
Self-harmers do not hurt others they hurt themselves, someone they can control; self-harm is a form of control in some ways. I personally self-harm by starvation, food is the only area of my life I feel I have complete control over. I understand the need to have some control over your life.
Some say that cutting is a way to release the emotional pain that you feel inside. You want the hurting to stop and by cutting you feel some of that pain released, a welcomed relief, but it is a short lived relief and the pain soon surfaces again. The scars on my arms are healed; I stopped cutting myself twelve years ago, it can be done.
Some individuals who cut say they do it because they can’t feel, almost as though they are emotionally numb. They are disassociated from their emotions (i.e. feel nothing) and the only way to feel anything is to cut themselves. When they do cut they feel pain and feeling something is better than feeling nothing. They describe it as a release. (Why Do I Cut Myself)
While I swapped cutting for starving, I never fully stopped self-harming. It is only now that I know I want to fight my desire to punish myself that I have asked for professional support. I understand all too well it will be a long battle, but it is one I want to beat.
The best advice I can give to any of my blog readers is to finally accept that you need support and speak out to a health professional. I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders after finally accepting self-harming is in no way helping me. I do not need to punish myself and I would like to learn other coping techniques, than to hurt myself.
Cutting can become addictive, if that is the only coping technique you know, you may find you feel you have no other options.
Not everyone wants help or support but I urge you to at least have a look at the many online resources available for self-harming. There is always another option to cutting yourself or harming yourself.
Self-Harm Stories On The Blog
Self-Harm Seemed A Great Idea I Started Biting My Arms
Self-Harming Became My Escape
Depression; I Took A Knife To My Wrists
Self Harm Story; Depression Introduced Me To Self-Harming
Self-Harming Helped Me Cope; I Poured Boiling Water Over My Arm
Other Self Harming Blog Articles
Kicking Self Harm Guide
Why An Elastic Band Can Help Self-Harmers
How To Self-Harm Safely
8 Self-harming Myths
Online Resources
Mind
