Cutting

Straight Talk on Cutting (Health Nut)

mud, 13 from United States writes...

Lately I've been really getting upset about my life and how things are with me and my family -- we are always fighting! I've also been feeling really down lately. A few months ago (and I have no idea why), I started cutting. It used to be just light little scrapes and such but ever since then they've been getting deeper and deeper and harder to disguise. It's like any sharp object I see I'm immediately reminded of how crappy things have been going and it's like I need to feel physical pain as if it would take away emotional pain. I need some help, but I don't know anyone I can turn to to help me out. I know I need to stop myself before I do something I'll regret -- do you have any tips on how to quit cutting?

Jamie says...

To help stop cutting you need to first understand some of what causes people to cut themselves. Many people often think that those who cut themselves are suicidal, but that's not really the case. In most cases, people who cut themselves do it in response to extreme stress. There are a number of reasons they may do it:

• Cutting can act as a distraction. The physical pain of cutting can serve to take their mind off of emotional pains.
• Some people have problems feeing anything, and cutting provides a means for them to feel something, as compared to feeling nothing.
• The act of cutting can trigger the release of endorphins, which are natural pain-killers in the body. A person might become 'hooked' on the feeling that this gives them. (some people have said they became 'addicted' to cutting)
• What can also be an attraction to cutting is control. Many of life's pain are out of our control, but cutting is something that can be controlled, and some are attracted to the fact that they can control that pain even though they can't control the other pain in their life.

In many ways cutting becomes a way that the person copes with problems in their life, but in reality they aren't coping at all.

To stop cutting you need to break the cycle. That means you need to find a way to cope with the issues in your life that are causing you to turn to cutting. The fact that you have turned to me for help suggests that you really want to stop cutting. That’s a good sign; don't ever lose sight of it.

However, stopping cutting is something that requires planning and support. If you're serious about breaking the cutting habit, then make sure you can follow through with it. What do you need?

• Make sure you have a friend you can talk to that will support you. Should you feel like cutting and you can't help yourself, then you need someone you can talk to that can get you over the hump until the feeling passes. If you don't have a friend to call, then there is a toll-free helpline you can call 1-800-DONT-CUT (1-800-366-8288).
• Whatever you have been using to cut needs to vanish, permanently. Get rid of all the things you have been using, and make sure you can't get them back.
• You should think of some things you can do that can take the place of cutting. This can mean doing anything that requires effort that will provide relief. Let's examine this further...

If you are angry or frustrated, then you need to let off some steam. Some thoughts:

• Go for a run. Sprint so hard that you are ready to collapse when you are done. The intense emotion will be replaced with intense exhaustion. This has the benefit of getting you out of the house (which is usually what triggers the need to cut) and it also gets you away from what you likely use to cut. Once you become accustomed to it, perhaps just go for a nice run or a jog instead of a sprint.
• If you like to hit things, make a punching bag and then wail on it with your fists. Punch the heck out of something (even a pillow), or grab a tray of ice cubes and chuck 'em at a wall outside. Don't punch walls or break things that you shouldn't break.
• Music can also be a release, if you're home alone, crank up the tunes really loud and get lost in the music. If you can't crank it, grab some headphones and your MP3 player and crank the tunes. Dance if that's something you're into.
• Wear a rubber band on your wrist and snap it when you need to. This will sting but won't cause permanent damage. It also can be used in situations when you are away from home and can't do something intense.

If you're feeling depressed and have the temptation to cut to feel 'anything', then try something that isn't as intense, but will shock the senses.

• Take an ice cube and squeeze it in your fist.
• Eat something that is really spicy or gross tasting (but don't eat anything that is not meant to eaten)
• Have a cold shower or bath
• Take something heavy in your hands and hold them straight out in front of you. Keep holding them there as long as you can. As time passes it will be harder and harder to do it, and it will become painful and uncomfortable. Keep doing this until the need to cut passes

You get the idea. There are plenty of things you can do instead of cutting, you just need to find things that you can do that suit you. The hardest will be the first time you resist cutting. Just tell yourself that you can do it, and use a technique that I mentioned above. (maybe print this page for later)

Of course if you find yourself still wanting to cut, call 1-800-DONT-CUT (1-800-366-8288) and talk to one of the counsellors.

Ideally you should be talking to your parents or a school counsellor about this, but I don't want to just say "talk to your parents or a school counsellor" since if you were willing to do that you probably would have done it already. However, you should also be honest with yourself and know that if you try to stop cutting and you can't, then you need to see a specialist about this.

(Originally posted in November 2004)



Got a question? Click here then scroll to the very bottom of the page and enter your text into the box - then click submit.

Tags: health nut, stress, suicide, self injury, cutting, coping, harm, anger, self harm

Comment on this article and see what others are saying