Discussion Is cutting actually bad?

[Thinking]

Because if it feels good and I can do what I want with my body, what's the problem?

I am careful so no one finds out, and if I should cut "too deep," so what? I'll die? Big whoop. Also, life is meaningless anyway so I don't see the problem.

 

[BipolarGuy]

Well it's obviously not good for you.

 

[Deleted member 19654]

It's a really bad habit. I've recently started again after years of not doing so. It may feel good at the time but it makes you feel worse in the long run.

 

[Thinking]

Well it's obviously not good for you.

I guess yeah... But like... So? People eat junk food, drink alcohol, smoke weed, etc

It's a really bad habit. I've recently started again after years of not doing so. It may feel good at the time but it makes you feel worse in the long run.

I'm trying to convince myself to stop but I can't think of a good reason:(

 

[BipolarGuy]

I guess yeah... But like... So? People eat junk food, drink alcohol, smoke weed, etc

I'm not sure that having occasional burger is on par with maiming oneself.

 

[elfgyoza]

It's a bad habit and I always try to discourage it but I never regret doing it myself. Just like we all have the right to our own lives, it's my body, my choice. I'm not harming anyone else by doing it so I don't see any issues with it. I'm such a hypocrite when it comes to stuff like this :/

 

[Deleted member 19654]

We're already suffering from all the crap in our lives so we shouldn't really be making ourselves suffer any more. It's tough to stop, I know.

 

[VIBRITANNIA]

i've been struggling with this question for a while, too.

one reason i haven't come with a counterargument for is "would you recommend it to someone else?". i don't know if you care about anyone, but i wouldn't tell one of my friends to start self-harming if they're suffering.

 

[Thinking]

I'm not sure that having occasional burger is on par with maiming oneself.

Idk why this sentence just made me laugh. I guess you're probably right. The trouble is I don't care if I hurt myself. I wish I did care but it is what it is I guess

We're already suffering from all the crap in our lives so we shouldn't really be making ourselves suffer any more. It's tough to stop, I know.

I feel like I suffer more when I'm not doing it

 

[Ghost2211]

Arguably if you like it and don't care what others think there is nothing wrong with it. You already know all the counters to it like that there is risk of infection, it's habitual, there is social stigma, and it doesn't fix anything. If those things are not relevant to you then in the end it is your body, so you do what works for you.

 

[tiredflower]

It helps us cope with the feelings we have inside. Even when actively not trying to ctb, cutting is just another way I try and deal with this shit show of a world. For me it shows I'm trying to carry on, otherwise I would have ctb by now

 

[BitterlyAlive]

It's not a healthy coping skill. Yes, it feels good and provides an escape of sorts. But the way I see it, it's avoiding the root cause of why you feel so much pain that cutting sounds good.

I can relate to what you said though. It doesn't feel "good" for me but it makes me dissociate and that helps me with my emotional pain. I also feel like I deserve it.

 

[Xocoyotziin]

It's a bad habit and I always try to discourage it but I never regret doing it myself. Just like we all have the right to our own lives, it's my body, my choice. I'm not harming anyone else by doing it so I don't see any issues with it. I'm such a hypocrite when it comes to stuff like this :/

Same. I think the shame from feeling like I had to hide it and that I'd be judged for it back when I did it was more damaging than the cuts themselves. I don't even mind the scars, people say you'll regret altering yourself permanently like that but I don't, and it helped me feel better to externalize physically and visually like that. Frankly I'm barely aware of them.

Heck, not cutting is probably a worse indicator of my mental state because that means I'm repressing.

 

[dundyfundy]

Arguably if you like it and don't care what others think there is nothing wrong with it. You already know all the counters to it like that there is risk of infection, it's habitual, there is social stigma, and it doesn't fix anything. If those things are not relevant to you then in the end it is your body, so you do what works for you.

I would have to agree with this. Of course I would like people not to do it, as we are already suffering mentally, and adding physical harm is not great, but if it gives you somekind of release, and you are trying to be mindful, looking for alternative release means, then what else can you do in the meantime.

Years ago before I found this forum and there was no one to relate to as a last resort hope, in trying to relief some pain I made 3 cuts on my forearm. It didn't help, made me feel nothing, no release, just the tingling. I then tried it again, 7 times, going as deep as I could because I thought I didn't go hard enough. Nothing, same tingling, slightly more pain when moving arm around due to broken skin.

Now I personally wish I didn't do it because I have scars which haven't healed years later, and I am conscious of wearing short sleeves. I don't care what people say, but world is judgemental, and I can't be bothered explaining to every individual, nor want someone at work making an unconscious decision which would impact my career negatively because of something they thought. I wouldn't have minded if I gained something from it, I would wear it as a battle scar. But I didn't gain anything.

 

[BitterlyAlive]

Heck, not cutting is probably a worse indicator of my mental state because that means I'm repressing.

Well said.

 

[Brokensaddle]

I used to do a lot but I had to stop as I noticed people were looking for new fresh cuts and I didn't want to draw unnecessary attention towards myself. I mainly did as release of self destruction, I still hate myself and my current abusive situation. Cutting was something I could control in terms of how I hurt myself, I liked feeling in the moment but when it passed I hated the aftermath of the injury

 

[schopenh]

I often think, 'why cutting?'. Seems like such a specific thing to do. I mean what did humans who felt like self-harming do before we had precision tools. And did ones with proto-tools cut similar to how people do now? Is there no alternative to cutting/why is cutting the most popular form of self harm? How much of cutting is a meme basically.

The only thing I'll say to people who cut is, be careful of permanent nerve damage. Know where the nerves are and steer clear.

Edit: I assume people who cut would not like to have a chronic physical pain problem?

 

[_Minsk]

Because if it feels good and I can do what I want with my body, what's the problem?
I am careful so no one finds out, and if I should cut "too deep," so what? I'll die? Big whoop. Also, life is meaningless anyway so I don't see the problem.

i have mixed feelings about it. if i had some friends who cut them selves it would hurt me too. but if you follow the safety guides like sterile tools, dont cut too deep etc. it just leaves scars.. some get themselves tatoos with ink, which also carries their own risks (lymphatic system). if you deal with self hate and it helps you to resolve that hate, i would try to (like bitterlyAlive said) to resolve the root if you are not sure about ctb. i know most people are against cutting for valid reasons and might hate me for this but i prefer them over tattoos

 

[BitterlyAlive]

Is there no alternative to cutting/why is cutting the most popular form of self harm?

It's a very sharp pain that just cuts through everything else in the moment. I think that's why alternates to cutting like ice/rubber bands just don't....uh....cut it. It's not the same.

Edit: The first "pun" was unintentional and now I'm just cringing

 

[Deleted member 19654]

I think with cutting, the physical pain lingers for a while. It's the same with burning yourself which I used to do too. Using things like elastic bands or ice, the pain doesn't last and so it doesn't feel as effective. It's like taking paracetamol when you have an opioid addiction.

 

[Stick]

Honestly I think the main problem with SH is that intentionally self-destructive behaviors indicate a really bad mental place. While eating badly, for example, can hurt you in the long run, the impulse in doing so is to eat food, not impair yourself. Whereas with cutting the goal is to cause harm intentionally. I think the danger comes from its addictive nature in that you can build up to a point where you are at risk of hitting an artery or to a point where you feel a need to cut in order to deal with pain and other coping mechanisms can't work for you.

I often think, 'why cutting?'. Seems like such a specific thing to do.

At least for me, cutting is kind of a next step for me. I used to only hit myself/ use a pen/ice ect. in order to not leave scars, but eventually my pain tolerance built up and I had to move to cutting to feel enough pain without damaging something.

 

[Shades of Grey]

I often think, 'why cutting?'. Seems like such a specific thing to do. I mean what did humans who felt like self-harming do before we had precision tools. And did ones with proto-tools cut similar to how people do now? Is there no alternative to cutting/why is cutting the most popular form of self harm? How much of cutting is a meme basically.

Edit: I assume people who cut would not like to have a chronic physical pain problem?

I sort of fell into it by accident. When I was younger, people weren't as open about self-harm as they are now. It wasn't really talked about very much, and definitely was not a "meme". I was having a particularly bad day following the death of a loved one, and managed to accidentally injure myself.

In that moment, everything stopped. There was a faint stinging sensation, but it didn't hurt the way that it would have if I hadn't done it myself. Emotionally, I felt nothing. There was this strange, numb sort of calm, and then I fell asleep... something I'd been struggling to do for weeks. And so it began.

I do want to note that I am not advocating self-harm as a coping mechanism... far from it.

It's a popular misconception that those who engage in self-harming behaviors enjoy pain. I'm sure there are probably some that do. I am not one of them. When I cut, I feel very little. It's not about the pain at all for me, and I would never want to suffer from chronic physical pain. I cut in a very controlled manner that is unlikely to result in significant bodily harm or lasting damage (outside of the obvious scarring).

 

[Brick In The Wall]

I guess yeah... But like... So? People eat junk food, drink alcohol, smoke weed, etc

I'm not condoning self harm but you have a pretty solid point there. Bloodletting was a medical procedure for a very long time.

I think in a controlled and sterile situation it's not as bad as people think. But like drug addicts, cutters usually regret their behavior over time. All of the above is damaging and will leave some sort of "scar."

 

[BitterlyAlive]

In that moment, everything stopped. There was a faint stinging sensation, but it didn't hurt the way that it would have if I hadn't done it myself. Emotionally, I felt nothing. There was this strange, numb sort of calm, and then I fell asleep

Exactly how it feels for me

 

[Shades of Grey]

I think in a controlled and sterile situation it's not as bad as people think. But like drug addicts, cutters usually regret their behavior over time. All of the above is damaging and will leave some sort of "scar."

This is absolutely true for me. I know not everyone is bothered by their scars, but I abhor mine.

I am a fairly secretive person, and I hate that I can't choose whether or not to disclose my history of self-harm. My body does it for me. I chose discreet locations, so most people have no idea... but there are medical situations where they can't be hidden. I will never forget the look of fear and revulsion on my roommate's face when she walked in on me while I was changing the morning after a bad night.

As stupid as it sounds, part of me also hates the fact that when I die, they'll invariably end up in the autopsy report (should one be performed against my wishes)... an embarrassing little footnote to my suicide, on record for all eternity.

Not that anyone but me really cares, but... you know.

 

[Brick In The Wall]

This is absolutely true for me. I know not everyone is bothered by their scars, but I abhor mine.

I am a fairly secretive person, and I hate that I can't choose whether or not to disclose my history of self-harm. My body does it for me. I chose discreet locations, so most people have no idea... but there are medical situations where they can't be hidden. I will never forget the look of fear and revulsion on my roommate's face when she walked in on me while I was changing the morning after a bad night.

As stupid as it sounds, part of me also hates the fact that when I die, they'll invariably end up in the autopsy report (should one be performed against my wishes)... an embarrassing little footnote to my suicide, on record for all eternity.

Not that anyone but me really cares, but... you know.

Of course not everyone is bothered by them, but every cutter I've ever known was. I've never been a cutter but I've battled numerous addictions for most of my life. Addiction has caused a different sort of "scar" on me.

 

[Lmd]

Just because there are people out there eating junk food, drinking alcohol, smoking weed, etc doesn't mean it's something good. That's not a excuse.

On the physical part you lose sensitivity in the areas where you cut yourself, while you are injury even if you don't notice you lose some strength too. If you do it in a bad way can result in permanent damage.

On the mental part it's another coping skill that can turn in just a bad habit. Coping skills aren't necessary something bad but if you are doing it to avoid or not face problems then is obviously bad. Also when you are doing it you are "breaking" a mental barrier of fear that can protect you from other dangers, something that looks like people don't care too much but can be risky.

I know you don't regret what are you doing or the consecuences because if you want to die who cares lol but the thing is that you are still alive and maybe the suicidal thoughs changes one day so if you are still gonna do it then take care to at least don't regret it in the future.

 

[plough22]

Honestly, I like the feeling what a cut/scratch gives, the opening and sudden twist of pain ends for a moment my pain, stress and suffering goes away. I only do it now when stressed overthinking. All knives have been taken out of the house, and adult I am and I can't have knives.

 

[elfgyoza]

I often think, 'why cutting?'. Seems like such a specific thing to do. I mean what did humans who felt like self-harming do before we had precision tools. And did ones with proto-tools cut similar to how people do now? Is there no alternative to cutting/why is cutting the most popular form of self harm? How much of cutting is a meme basically.

Edit: I assume people who cut would not like to have a chronic physical pain problem?

I started SH by scratching myself but it wasn't enough to distract from the emotional pain, so I started using scissors and then blades. I guess we use what we can get our hands on.
'Why cutting?' I hit/punch myself in the head as well but the pain from cutting lasts longer. The longer it lasts, the longer I'm distracted from how much I hate myself, how shitty life is, and how much I want to kms.

I don't have any chronic physical pain issues and I wouldn't like to have any either. I have control over self harming, I decide when and where to cut myself, which is not something you can do with chronic pain

 

[Lizzy199075]

I think people have numerous different reasons to sh as it is in most cases a very private thing. To dismiss it as a bad thing without understanding the emotions behind it is a bit unfair particularly if those people have never been in that situation. For me it helps me cope when the emotional pain when things become too much. I often find there is a thin line between me being in control of it or the sh being in control of me but there is a lot of evidence it becomes an addiction with hormones etc. what I do definitely recognise in regards to my own experience is that when I become overwhelmed and suicide is the main focus I feel it often helps subside to act on impulse. Yeah sometimes I don't look after the wounds but that's my choice but I wouldn't have lasted as long in the world without it. I like others don't see it any different from drinking alcohol or using recreational drugs to deal with emotional pain.