Cutting. What comes to mind when you see this word? When you hear it? Is there something that clicks that makes you think of cutting food or clay? Or do you get the thought that some one may actually do this to themselves? What thought comes to mind?
There are many teens and young adults that use cutting as a way to cope with strong feelings and emotions. Maybe this sounds odd to someone who has never done that, but it is out there and I know this from personal experience. Cutting is hard to explain, but it can be explained in one easy phrase... "There is only one way to truely understand cutting, but I wounldn't wish that upon anybody"...
This is true. Cutting is complicated, but i can give you some reasons and thoughts that are behind the cuts. Cutting for me has always been a way to release strong emotions such as anger, depression and sometimes too much excitement. Now the too much excitement may just be me, but I wouldn't doubt it, I have bipolar which makes the highs and lows both applicable to cutting spurts. Some thoughts behind cutting can be self loathing or feeling like they are unloved or feeling overcrowded or even the feeling that you are stuck with no way out.
Imagine being in the position where you feel like cutting on your self is the only way to relieve any of these feelings. Can you imagine it? Its harder than you thought isn't it? I am not writing this blog to encourage people to use cutting as a way of coping but as a way of showing others that there are things like this that do happen. This is real and it is hard on those who struggle with it and those who know them.
Some signs for cutting could be extreme secrecy, wearing longsleeves or pants on days when it is too hot for them, reduced interest in things that one once loved, unexplained scars, and possibly a lot of irritation when confronted about these.
Some people seek therapy and some dont. Don't be too worried about suicide. Most cutters only die from accidentally cutting too deep. It is just a way of coping.
I hope that this has been an insight for those who read this. And I am not encouraging this behavior. If you struggle with this, stay strong. Have a good day everyone. 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
I hope you don't do this anymore. Many people who have been molested,raped,beaten, controlled, and/or have had eating disordered cut. This has been common in almost every single person I have come across. Including myself. I have been controlled, molested, and had an eating disorder. I also believe many people who cut also have some form of a mental illness. Like depression,anxiety (I have those as well)
Other do it because crying is not acceptable or they can only express their feelings like metaphors. The blood is like crying.
I do not cutt anymore. I have bad scars. They were easy to cover up because I have cats. It is good to inform people about cutting. It really is not the answer though. I cut from age 14-20. Hopefully it is something people grow out of. Some people do have intentions of suicide so people that cut need to be watched by their friends that know about it. Good blog though.
http://www.progressiveu.org/032913-lupus-uncureable-wait-what
Love comments? I do too!
I cut for six years, it's been a little over a year since the last time I did it. And I did it bad, I would have anywhere between 200 and 500 cuts on me at most times. I have pretty bad scars on my legs and wrists. This is partially why I chose to get my tattoo on my wrist, to remind myself never to do this again.
But your blog is right, people that haven't been there can't really understand it. Cutting is like an addiction, literally you get addicted to the pain. And you start to rely on it as a reminder that you are still alive. I started cutting when my mom's alcoholism got really bad. To me it was the only aspect of my life that I and NO ONE else was in charge of. But yes, I did know my limits. I knew where and how deep to go without seriously injuring myself.
I hope anyone that reads this and is going through a bout of depression knows that this is not the answer. Yes, we are talking about it, but take it from me, this isn't how you want to end up. I have used cutting to try to take my life, big mistake. And there's not a day that I don't regret all these scars. They are permanent reminders of how out of control you can allow things to get. You don't want that.
And if you are going through it, I recommend talking to someone like us that has stopped because that's where the best help is, with someone that really can relate.
-------------
Do you find it odd that you are not as strong as you once thought?
First off, I don't think cutting/self-mutilation amongst teens is an 'underground' issue. I'm sure that many people have been exposed to this matter through friends and family members, the media (i.e. the news and talk shows), and/or direct experience.
The act of cutting shares a common trait with other addictions: the release of endorphins. Drug usuage releases endorphins. Over-eating releases endorphins. But even a good run can release endorphins too as well recreational hobbies. Partly why addictions are hard to overcome because a person's going to want more and more of these endorphins to feel good and forget about their problems. That and other psychological factors that come into play. I'm not saying I've been where you've been and know exactly how you feel, but it's nice to know that there's other healthy substitutes people can use to deal with their problems. Hopefully, those who cut themselves now will realize that later on (but I know this isn't exactly a realistic expectation if they haven't had some sort of an epiphany or confrontation/intervention and the likes).
-----
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/orochigenocide
". . . it is error upon error, clout upon clout, and our best virtue has for its occasion a superfluous and evitable wretchedness. Our life is frittered away by detail."
- Henry Thoreau
Yes, I would agree that it's not exactly and "underground" issue anymore, especially with "emo" and "scene" kids that make cutting look like a fashion statement (don't get me started there).
And thank you for providing the alternatives, and I highly suggest that people do look into those options mentioned above instead of cutting.
In all cases though, they don't work. When I started cutting I was doing drugs, playing music, and really involved with cheer leading, so I was involved in things that release endorphins, but it's different. And l can't really explain that.
-------------
Do you find it odd that you are not as strong as you once thought?
The part of this blog that worried me is that you said witnesses should not be too worried about sucide. People who cut are not practicing healthy ways of dealing with their emotions, and this can lead to suicide attempts. While cutting is not always directly related to suicide, it can still occur, and so this should be considered a real concern.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tricia0711