Help How to cut?

[ArtPendragon13]

So, I've been wanting to cut, myself for a while on, but I've been having trouble. Every time I try to, I get scared and can't. It's because I'm too scared if hurts, more than I want to. I want to get over this, what are so tips, that I can do to help me?

 

[loveyouforever]

chito pfp!!
as for your question, cutting hurts. its going to hurt no matter what. you're gonna have to work yourself up to push past that fear instinct, but I don't recommend it lol I've been cutting for 8 years now, it's a pain in the ass & expensive

 

[heatnormal]

I want to get over this, what are so tips, that I can do to help me?

i'm sorry you;re going thru this. put an ice cube in your hand, squeeze it hard until it melts -- similar pain.

I've been wanting to cut

are you planning on using it as emotional regulation?

 

[ArtPendragon13]

i'm sorry you;re going thru this. put an ice cube in your hand, squeeze it hard until it melts -- similar pain.

are you planning on using it as emotional regulation?

I guess I am, because every time I'm in despair or in emotional distress, I feel the urge to cut. I feel my veins begging to be cut.

 

[ladidabi]

I wouldn't recommend doing it obviously, but I get it.

It hurts, but how much depends on different factors (depth, tolerance etc). Personally peak pain is hours or a whole day after I have done it.
At least for me, pain is the point. One part of my left arm has become weaker, kinda lost some feeling on there. Doctor confirmed nerve damage after I visited because I lost feeling in my arm at the time. It's become better a few years later, but not recovered fully. Look out for that if you do want to do it but also want to preserve your body at least a bit.

I often end up taking a hot shower shortly after, that stings quite a bit, messes with my routine though. The physical pain distracts from the anxiety I get which is choking me. I have been clean for a good few months now. Not really gone past styro myself. Don't have the guts to go deeper, and I also don't want to expose the act to medical staff. I have not cut myself anywhere but both my arms.

Some tips I can give from experience:
1. Learn the sharpness of the blade. I would suggest to not put much pressure if you don't know how sharp it is. If you cut too deep you have to get medical attention to clean and get it closed. Cutting too deep risk abnormal scarring for some skin types.
2. Make cleaning and treating it routine. If you don't want to risk infections and uneven color in scars, prioritise cleaning first, once closed focus on scar-healing. if you want to reduce the look, as well as avoiding UV exposure for a while.

I have Fitzpatrick skin type 2, so that plays a small part of how it has healed. I have hypertrophic scars that have pretty much blended in with my skin by now as of color. But they are slightly raised when fully healed. My esthetician has noticed it though because she works very closely on my body.

 

[Leonard_Bangley39]

Cutting is a pretty nasty coping mechanism because it spirals out of control pretty easily. first you feel good with just small cuts, then eventually you'll want bigger ones. Its very easy to cut too deep and need to get medical attention, plus depending on where you cut, the scars can be hard to hide and can sometimes lead to awkward conversations. I myself have been cutting for a couple months on both forearms. Ive never gone deeper than the dermis layer and i dont think i can ever see myself intentionally going deeper than that because the idea of seeing the fat and gore underneath makes me sick. im content with just cutting to the dermis layer deep enough to leave wide, visible scars.

On getting past the pain, for me personally, it depends on my level of distress in the moment. If i just had something really awful happen to me, like an argument or an accident, i'll probably cut to the dermis pretty easily. If im not feeling as shitty and am just cutting out of boredom, i wont always be able to push through the sting as much and will just do shallow cuts. If you're really are sure that you wanna start cutting, just please keep in mind that it can turn into a habit or addiction very easily. Don't try to cut too deep, it can increase your chance of infection and will take longer to heal. Make sure you always clean your blade and replace it when it gets dull.

 

[halfstay]

I guess I am, because every time I'm in despair or in emotional distress, I feel the urge to cut. I feel my veins begging to be cut.

like mentioned above, it's an addictive coping mechanism, and I am an addict in that regard. but I also know that I would've most likely taken my own life by now if it weren't for this coping mechanism so here's my advice- genuinely try to engage with other mechanisms before you do this. even just the thought of harming yourself is valid enough for professional intervention. you don't need to hurt yourself for someone to care.

but otherwise, some actual advice from experience, a modern shower razor is a safer blade to use. Pros, short blades mean little to no risk of death or nerve damage (can't risk going super deep for instance because the plastic prevents it), they're easily accessible, wounds heal quickly and typically without a trace in a few months time. bloody and painful enough for emotional regulation without gore. doesn't require much pressure thus easier to do when you have intense SI.
cons, it is a lingering burning pain and those blades dull quickly/can get expensive. hard to sanitize. creates wide pattern from multiple micro blades that make it harder to bandage/explain if questioned.

whatever you choose to do, just remember to stay safe and prevent infection. try to recognize when urges become dependencies. I hope you can find relief from your suffering friend