Why can't I stop cutting?
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You sound alot like me, my mom also found out a couple of years ago about my cutting and started sobbing. i also refuse to get help. i am also trying to stop, i stopped once, but relapsed. what helped me stop was that i began to write out my feelings in poetry and letters. i wrote what the reason was that i wanted to cut myself and that usually helped me feel better, just writing down what was bugging me. as some ppl said above, the rubber band thing really does work, but i like the hair ties w/ the metal strip, cuz that part feels real good when it hits ur wrist. also, i used to cut when i was angry, and when i felt like that, i would take a notebook and slash the back of it with something sharp, it almost has the feel of cutting skin. the biggest part of stopping is really wanting to stop, i mean really wanting to, without even considering not wanting to stop. i could stop cutting if i really wanted to, but i really dont care to stop. good luck in stopping!
call 1800 dont cut
Well, the only thing that you can do is deal with the underlying issue. Which will involve some form of therapy. Normally people cut to manifest emotional pain into the physical. You should really reconsider your opinion on going to see a psychologist.
If you do not want to talk to a person face to face, when you have the urge to cut, pick up the phone and call a mental health crisis line.
Its all in your mind to choose not to cut yourself. Get involved in activities at school to keep your mind off of stressors.
Find other ways of releasing anger or depression. Like boxing, drawing, etc.
its addictive i no because i have a friend who did it but she stop by using rubber bands and hair ties that way if any one asks its in case u need more to put up ur hair and wen u feel the urge to cut u just pop it a wile. (wen ever i get really stressed and need something the ones i like to pop myself with are the ones with the little metal ends.
I used to be the same way except I didn't get to deep in it..my friends noticed and one gave me a rubber band to keep around my wrist and everytime I wanted to cut I had to keep snapping it and think about my friend and family.. eventually all I had to do was look at the bracelet and I thought about it
Here are some excerpts from previous similar questions that I've answered that you may find helpful:
Just a couple of ideas to help get you started-try to stop in small steps. Set yourself a goal to not cut for a certain time period and when you've mastered that, set yourself a goal to refrain for longer periods, depending on how frequently you are cutting. Take it one day, one hour at a time if necessary. You can do this with each episode when you feel the impulse to cut in order to increase your self-control each time you feel the desire. What you'll also find is that as you go for longer and longer periods of time without giving in to the urge to cut, you'll become more aware of all your feelings and what is driving them and therapy can really help you to understand it better and give you options to consider. Ultimately you need to make a choice to stop the behavior or it won't stop. But for starters, try making a choice to refrain for a little longer than usual and challenge yourself to extend the time for longer and longer intervals. Setting a goal to stop can be daunting, but breaking it down into steps usually works and it allows you gradual access to your emotions so you can learn alternate methods of coping a little at a time.
Also, remove and get rid of all the things with which you regularly cut. Many people have certain items they use all the time and it becomes like a ritual. Removing these things will help you gain delay time by not having them readily accessible. It won't prevent you from getting other objects, but it will decrease the likelihood that you'll act on impulse alone.
Another option that has worked for some folks is to take a doll or stuffed animal that you love and cut it instead and then stitch it up or bandage it. It allows you to vent your feelings, but also helps you recognize and empathize with the pain you are inflicting by doing this and that in turn helps develop understanding towards yourself and gives you an opportunity to engage in actions designed to help heal the hurt. Loving something else, even a stuffed animal, is often a path towards learning to love and care for yourself.
Rubber bands, drawing a red line with a marker or ice are substitutes and some folks do find this helpful, but ultimately you need to break away from the cycle of causing yourself pain in order to numb up your emotions.
You will need to understand why you cut in order to begin exploring other healthy alternatives that will meet the needs you have without injuring yourself. Here is some info for you on reasons why people cut, if you aren't sure yet why you yourself do it.
There are multiple reasons why people self-mutilate and each case needs to be explored individually. The most common reason is that it occurs in order to induce a dissociative state and assists people who have been traumatized with achieving a state of emotional numbness and you hear it described as soothing for them. The physiological basis for it stems from the release of endorphins-the brain's natural painkillers-which function much like opiates and dull the experience of emotional pain. Other reasons include the opposite rationale-people who feel numb emotionally and who have shut down will self-mutilate in order to feel something and remember they are alive. Some people, particularly those who are in abusive situations, injure themselves as a way to exert control over when and how the pain is experienced. Others do it for self-punishment and feel relief from guilt or shame and see the letting of blood as a way to purge themselves of guilt. It may be a way of re-enacting and attempting to master early traumatic experiences This often happens during a dissociative state where people are recalling experiences which were traumatizing and they feel a need to punish/purge themselves for what they often mistakenly believe they have done wrong. There are also folks who do it as a way to cope with unrelenting chronic physical pain from other sources as it creates an alternative pain that distracts them from the chronic pain (think of the principle behind how a TENS unit works). In more rare instances it can be a response to psychotic states where folks are responding to command hallucinations or believe they are purging themselves from some evil inside them. There are other less common reasons, depending on the form of self-mutilation (eye enucleation, castration, etc.) that tend to be symbolic in nature. But most commonly it is done in response to increased feelings of tension with which the individual cannot cope and it becomes a way for them to dissociate their emotional pain and achieve an emotional numbing. The goal of treatment is to fully understand the reasons that sustain the behavior and in the latter case (the most common) to help people develop affect tolerance and the ability to cope with and soothe their emotional pain in healthier ways.
One other thought to consider. What you experience when you cut is really more like relief from pain than it is like truly feeling happy. The absence of pain is not the same as feeling happy, so don't settle for less than really being happy. Good luck!!
if you think about suicide alot than you need 2 see someone..
You need to think about why you cut, and what relief the cutting gives you.
When you are in a situation where you want to cut, count to five before cutting, after a few times of counting to five, change it and count to 10, then 20...keep waiting longer and longer before cutting. Each time try to beat your last "record" in terms of how long you can wait before you cut.
Tell your parents if you want to, but they will freak - that's just what parents do!
you need to fight whatever it is thats causing you to do this,your action will have a affect on not only you and your life,but also your entire family.
if you cant speak to you family,then speak to a teacher and tell them about it,maybe they can refer you to someone.
whatever the problems are in your life,just try and look at all the good things that you have.you may think you dont have much,and the problem are overpowering your life,but look at your life through a less fortunate persons life.
the way I get through thing,whether its personal dissatisfaction from ,life or whatever crap we face in life,I just think,to myself,its not that bad,I have my family that mean the world to be,and their my happiness,everything else seems insignificant.
Also I dont know if your religious or not,but a way to think about it is,God doesnt burden you more than he thinks you can handle,you just have to be strong.
You can learn EFT. It works wonders on cutting behaviour. Look up EFT online (YouTube) to see what it looks like. It is easy to learn. You can contact me and I will help you if you want.
art is good. if i'm sad or stressed sometimes i take a pen and scribble all over a piece of paper and make holes in the paper with the pen. or i write poetry.
Please take the time to visit the websites I have shared with you. See the links listed below this write-up.
The 1st link provides you some ways to stop==
The others share w/you more information about 'cutting' and the very last one is non-related--sort of ==it is a political cry for help for a group that helps those in pain. Well-- read it if you have time---otherwisse the last link is not related to you per-say---just something I bumped into while searching for help on your question.
Good luck--you are not alone. There is help and there are ways to stop---go to a friend you trust--call them when you feel the urge--think about talking to them about this problem of cutting and if you can't share with them the 'cutting' problem just talk to them about something else that is 'happy' try to not get stressed out---the longer you resist the urge to cut and the more you are pre-occupied with other thougths (positive thoughts) and activities that are positive--- you will be able to PASS the urge to cut yourself.
Please take the time to read the 1st couple of links.
"Although cutting can be a difficult pattern to break, it is possible. Getting professional help to overcome the problem doesn't mean that a person is weak or crazy. Therapists and counselors are trained to help people discover inner strengths that help them heal. These inner strengths can then be used to cope with life's other problems in a healthy way.
Reviewed by: D'Arcy Lyness, PhD
Date reviewed: April 2007"
If you don't want to talk to a psychiatrist, that's cool. I understand completely. My suggestion (the way I stopped cutting) is that I would call someone and see if they wanted to just talk or hang out. You don't even have to tell them the real reason you are calling. A lot of times, the urge to cut can be alleviated simply by distraction.
Something else I do is I have a box full of stuff that will occupy my hands for an extended period of time. I know it sounds silly, but coloring is the best one I have found.
I used to cut, not deep, i was more of a just irritate the skin till it bled but when i wanted to stop i wore an elastic band and let it snap on my wrists... I would also listen to music.. Screamo seemed to calm me down.. or i would go watch some tv or sleep just to distract myself. Good luck. There is a link below on self injury, it might mae you feel better. It made me.
i know because i used to cut 24 7 i was a heavy cuter almost cut my vein u cant really make yourself stop when you know you are ready or you feel its pointless or find one of ur freinds or parents is seriously sad with u u will stop otherwise its really hard its addicting.. believe me i know
its all in your mind just sit there and say ok lets wait five minutes then when thats over go five more works for me i did that for one whole night and it got me over it so hope it helps
I think you really need to realize what matters to you in life and why you are cutting.is it to escape the pain or are you doing it because people are telling you to?[which is ridiculous].I think you know that you are much better than just a person that cuts.It's a hard thing to get over, but frustration can be converted into other things in a positive way.[such as rage sports].I really hope you overcome this, I know I may sound somewhat like a counselor, but I want you to get help.If you can't quit on your own, please tell someone such as a health care proffesional.The way I'm looking at it is, would you rather let your mother know that you've been a cutter for a few years, or a cutter for 10 years.She WILL eventually find out, and it's up to you if you tell her now or later.
Have you talked to anyone about your childhood/early adolescent trauma? Maybe you've been traumatized and don't know it, maybe you do and your not admitting to it, but most likely once you deal with it...with the help of a therapist, the cutting will stop.
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