This is a serious topic and I guess I just want to understand it. How can "cutting" help anyone or bring relief? In the cases I see (on television) the "cutter" always does it on visible places like their arms. Wouldn't this just be a cry for help because if they really just wanted to cut they would do it somewhere not easily visible (bottom of the feet, etc).

[danalyn]

This is obviously someone who has not "been there." Correct?

Cutting is, in my experience, an attempt to ease mental pain. The idea is that by cutting, by causing external pain it will, as I said, ease the mental pain. Depression, suicide are also usually involved. Yes, it's usually visible. ((especially on tv, but they have to exaggerate, anyhow...)) Chances are, it is a cry for help. Could well be. It's hard to find words to express what you're going through... hard to conceive that people will listen or understand...

I don't think this is GP posting, is it???

[Tracy]

How can "cutting" help anyone or bring relief?

Well, I'm not sure that it HELPS anyone, although it can seem like it does at times... cutting can provide a much-needed outlet (although, it isn't a terribly good one) for painful emotions, a way to express self-hatred, or something else... it really depends on the individual case. I've done it before, and I really don't know why it brings (temporary) relief for the pain, it just does, and more immediately than anything else I've tried. Of course, then people see the scars and worry and that causes more stress... so in the long run it's really no relief at all.

In the cases I see (on television) the "cutter" always does it on visible places like their arms. Wouldn't this just be a cry for help because if they really just wanted to cut they would do it somewhere not easily visible (bottom of the feet, etc).

It could be, but also bear in mind that the forearms are very easy to reach to cut, tend to hurt less than, say, your shoulder or back, and... speaking for myself here, I've never really been thinking rationally enough when I cut to realize that "Oh, people will notice that." Of course, in some situations it may be a cry for help, I just don't think that's always deliberately the case.

[passinthru]

Alright, let me preface what I'm gonna say with this...I'm been a cutter and into SI(self-injury) for over six years.

Originally posted by Unregistered
This is a serious topic and I guess I just want to understand it.

why? do you know a cutter? or are you just curious?

How can "cutting" help anyone or bring relief?

alright do you understand why people cut/burn/etc.?
cause if you don't understand that then you won't be able to understand how it helps.

when you cut though, chemicals are released in your brain which do elevate your mood.

In the cases I see (on television) the "cutter" always does it on visible places like their arms. Wouldn't this just be a cry for help because if they really just wanted to cut they would do it somewhere not easily visible (bottom of the feet, etc).

the cutters you see in tv shows are not all that well depicted. cutting is a very personal thing and most cutters who do cut in a place that is visible (arms and face) wear long sleeves until the cuts are healed to the point where short sleeves are ok again.

Yes cutitng can be a cry for help, but it isn't necessarily.

Honestly some of us like the pain. We crave it and even when i'm not hurting myself I think about it quite alot. I will sit with a knife in my hands looking at it testing the blade to see how sharp it is. I don't leave home unless I have a sharp object and basic first-aid supplies on me.

If you want to know why "I" personally cut I'd be happy to explain. If you want to know why people in general cut, well there are a number of common reasons.

Katie+

[Tracy]

when you cut though, chemicals are released in your brain which do elevate your mood.

Just out of curiosity, how exactly does that happen, if you know?

[passinthru]

Originally posted by Tracy
Just out of curiosity, how exactly does that happen, if you know?

oh boy, lemme see if I can remember...it's been awhile since I've researched this. ok when you are injured there are chemicals released in your brain to supress the feelings of pain and to dull the nerve endings.

grrr wish I could remember. lemme poke around a bit and see what i can find k?

and travis if you read this and know feel free to answer for me.

Katie+

Guys,

I had never thought of cutting till a christian girl at college told me she did it and was then around struggling with it. Since then, though Praise God I never have, when I have felt really really low it has been there as an option. I have thought about when I never would have done otherwise.

I think it's enough to say if a friend does it they are suffering from extreme mental distress and to them it seems the only form of relief. They need love, encouragement and prayer.

I don't think a thread to understand it is a brilliant idea. If you hear feelings which you recognise you could begin to see cutting as an option at those points and anyone here would say that wouldn't be good.

[passinthru]

Originally posted by Unregistered
I don't think a thread to understand it is a brilliant idea. If you hear feelings which you recognise you could begin to see cutting as an option at those points and anyone here would say that wouldn't be good.

you've got a good point. however the last things I'd ever want to do is encourage someone to cut. It is one heck of a bad thing and as others will atest to one heck of a thing to overcome.

however I don't think that that means we can't discuss it. Because I"m tired of mental illness being swept under the rug.

If a mod thinks that this needs to be closed so be it, but guys feel free to PM or email me about this.

Katie+

[Nate]

Hey Katie, just wanted to let you know that I'm not really directing any of this at you personally, yours was just the easiest post to reply to.

alright do you understand why people cut/burn/etc.?
cause if you don't understand that then you won't be able to understand how it helps.

I've heard just about every reason for it ever given, and I still don't understand why people do it.

Honestly some of us like the pain. We crave it...

This seems so ironic to me considering that a lot of cutters say that they "just want the pain to end." (speaking of mental/emotional pain, I assume.) I guess causing physical pain is a way to lessen the effect of the emotional pain they are suffering?



Ok, this next part is definitely not directed at anyone in particular, and I hope it doesn't offend anybody.

In my humble opinion (and you are all welcome to disagree), cutting is one of the many problems that has arisen from modern society's huge exaggeration of depression. Too many people are told that they are suffering from depression when they are really just having a bad day. They are told they are depressed, so they begin to act like it. It seems that a lot of people cut for no reason other than "that's what depressed people do." In my opinion, depression is not the cause of cutting, it is the effect.

Everyone assumes depression is just some sort of mental condition that must be cured with all the science and therapy we can muster, when (I believe) most cases could be cured by something as simple as a smile or a hug. I think most cases are actually made worse by all of the therapists and medications. People are made to believe that the depression is part of who they are, that it defines them as a person. They are made to think that there is something wrong with them because they have this "condition." They are told to do all sorts of things to help them get over it, and it always seems like these things just make it worse.

Once, just once, I'd like to hear of somebody going in to a therapist to see if they're depressed and have the diagnosis be negative. I've never heard of it happening and I'm not sure if I ever will. Depression seems to be nothing more than an excuse to be unhappy and angry. It almost seems like some people want to be depressed so they don't have to be happy and joyful all the time.

Ok, that's enough. Sorry if I went off-topic, and again, I apologize if I offended anybody. I would love to hear y'alls thoughts on any of this... because I am becoming even more confused with this whole thing every day.

In His love,
Nate

Originally posted by KeyboardFreak
Hey Katie, just wanted to let you know that I'm not really directing any of this at you personally, yours was just the easiest post to reply to.

ok...I"m trying to not get too mad about some of what you wrote. I understand though that you're just trying to understand. so I'm gonna try to keep a cool head.

I've heard just about every reason for it ever given, and I still don't understand why people do it.

alright you want to know why we do it? I can tell you specifically why I do it, if you want. let me know and I'll PM you.

This seems so ironic to me considering that a lot of cutters say that they "just want the pain to end." (speaking of mental/emotional pain, I assume.) I guess causing physical pain is a way to lessen the effect of the emotional pain they are suffering?

yeah that's the main idea...because the pain inside gets to the point where it is unbearable and causeing physical pain relieves some of the emotional pain.

Ok, this next part is definitely not directed at anyone in particular, and I hope it doesn't offend anybody.

well I am offended...but I'm gonna try to answer your ignorance.

In my humble opinion (and you are all welcome to disagree), cutting is one of the many problems that has arisen from modern society's huge exaggeration of depression. Too many people are told that they are suffering from depression when they are really just having a bad day. They are told they are depressed, so they begin to act like it. It seems that a lot of people cut for no reason other than "that's what depressed people do." In my opinion, depression is not the cause of cutting, it is the effect.

Everyone assumes depression is just some sort of mental condition that must be cured with all the science and therapy we can muster, when (I believe) most cases could be cured by something as simple as a smile or a hug.

what rock are you living under? almost no one recognises that depression is often a chemical thing and that it isn't as simple as have more faith or just be happy or demon opression/possession.

I think most cases are actually made worse by all of the therapists and medications. People are made to believe that the depression is part of who they are, that it defines them as a person. They are made to think that there is something wrong with them because they have this "condition." They are told to do all sorts of things to help them get over it, and it always seems like these things just make it worse.

and you're getting this from where?
no depressed people are pre-therapy convinced that there is something really wrong with them and that the depression is them.

Depression seems to be nothing more than an excuse to be unhappy and angry.

that's a load of crap.

It almost seems like some people want to be depressed so they don't have to be happy and joyful all the time.

nope it's attitudes like yours that make us think and feel that we have to stuff what we're feeling down inside and be a happy shiny person.

Katie+

[passinthru]

^^me^^
took too long to post.

[Nate]

Originally posted by Unregistered
alright you want to know why we do it? I can tell you specifically why I do it, if you want. let me know and I'll PM you.

Yes, I would love to know.

yeah that's the main idea...because the pain inside gets to the point where it is unbearable and causeing physical pain relieves some of the emotional pain.

Hey, would you look at that, I actually got something right.

well I am offended...but I'm gonna try to answer your ignorance.

Again, I apologize. It wasn't my intention to offend or anger anybody.

what rock are you living under? almost no one recognises that depression is often a chemical thing and that it isn't as simple as have more faith or just be happy or demon opression/possession.

When did I say anything about demon possession? All I said was that I believe most cases of depression be cured by faith. (btw, I don't believe happiness is a cure for depression, it is an effect of the cure)

no depressed people are pre-therapy convinced that there is something really wrong with them and that the depression is them.

No, they are not convinced before therapy. That was exactly my point; that people usually don't think those sort of things until they have therapy.

nope it's attitudes like yours that make us think and feel that we have to stuff what we're feeling down inside and be a happy shiny person.

I do not control your thoughts. Your thoughts are your own. Please do not pass the blame to anyone else.

IHL,
Nate

[passinthru]

faith...cure depression...nope. depression is a chemical thing. yes people have been misdiagnosed. It happens.

alright I was before therapy convinced that something was really wrong with me. Because I was suicidal. because I was constantly depressed.

sorry I'm not trying to pass blame here...poor choice of words. alright your attitude is one that I've seen and heard before which triggers the feelings in me that I have to always be happy and I"m not allowed ot have any problems becuse if I only had more faith I would be just fine.

Katie+

[Nate]

Originally posted by passinthru
faith...cure depression...nope.

I guess that would depend upon who your faith was placed in and what you consider a cure for depression to be. If your faith is placed in anyone but God (therapists, psychiatrists, yourself, etc), then yes... it won't cure a darn thing. But God can do anything; if He can raise people from the dead, He can most certainly cure depression. (not to say that He always will cure it entirely, which brings me to my next point...) God is not going to make you happy all the time, in fact, He may choose to make your life miserable at times (look at Job). There is nothing you can do to change or cure this simple fact of life. If you consider going through tough times to be depression, then no... faith in God will never cure that. I consider depression to be mainly an attitude towards life in general (depression makes you sad, angry, etc). Faith in God can most certainly change your attitude.... and I consider that a cure. Faith in God brings hope and joy; hope of glory after sufferings and joy for the hope that we have as Christians.

I hope that makes at least some sense.

[Nate]

Originally posted by Eggy
and even those who only think they're depressed (or whatever the case may be - perhaps less serious cases) need, more than anything, to encounter God's love and people who will show His love to them... and i think our response as Christians should be to love and listen to their pain...

Amen.

faith is part of the cure... i don't believe that someone who struggles with depression will be able to find victory and freedom without Christ... and i think that the tendency in our culture is to look towards the psyhochological and medical to provide the answers... but i think that only God's healing touch can truly bring freedom and victory

Amen.