What do cutters feel when they cut

There can be large cuts, or small marks grouped together i. One severe cutter I worked with described a precise system for her cutting. She would cut herself four times, two inches apart between cuts. Cutting for her was a ritual that was reinforced by her struggle with obsessive compulsive disorder.

Another prevalent form of self-harm is branding or burning. Rubbing an eraser against the skin can also cause a friction burn. This form of self-harm is often seen in the adolescent population. When a cutter does not have a sharp object they may use a fingernail. Many individuals that struggle with self-harm have experienced some sort of trauma in their past. This could include childhood sexual, emotional or physical abuse, real or perceived abandonment or neglect by a caregiver, death or divorce.

As mentioned above, self-harm is a coping strategy to deal with emotional pain. Individuals that self-harm dissociate from the emotional pain by feeling physical pain. Others who self-harm feel that when they self-harm, they have a sense of control over their emotions. Some believe they deserve to be punished for past issues; others use self-harm to re-enact abuse. She felt like she needed to release the poison by cutting herself. She had experienced sexual trauma. Although it is difficult to say what makes one person self-harm and another not, there tend to be individuals who are at higher risk for developing self-harm behaviors.

These include:. Most people who self-harm start at around age Some continue to self-harm into their twenties. While self-harm behavior worked as a coping strategy in their teens, some individuals find that it is not as helpful or as socially acceptable when they get older.

If the individual does not resolve the issues behind the self-harm behavior, then self-harm behavior may morph into other addictive behaviors, such as drugs, alcohol, and promiscuity. I used to wonder why you cared so much, but now I am just thankful.

The best treatment for self-harm behaviors is helping the individual express and talk about their pain. As they talk about their pain, they are able to gain perspective and understanding of it. Some individuals have difficulty expressing themselves verbally. These people can release their pain through writing, drawing, painting, and other forms of expression.

The important thing is for them to release their pain in a healthy way. Since self-harm behavior can be similar to an addiction, many individuals have intense urges to return to self-harm even as they try to recover. Teaching and helping individuals deal with these urges will be important in their treatment. It can be helpful to offer alternatives to the self-harming behavior such as using a stress ball, exercising, talking, finding a distraction, and seeking out the company of positive peers or adults.

Charlotte came to my office a few times a week for a year. Over time we developed trust and Charlotte began to share. She talked about her biological mother abandoning her, about the physical abuse she endured, about a family friend molesting her, and about the pain of being placed in foster care.

Although self-injury is not usually a suicide attempt, it can increase the risk of suicide because of the emotional problems that trigger self-injury. And the pattern of damaging the body in times of distress can make suicide more likely. There is no sure way to prevent your loved one's self-injuring behavior. But reducing the risk of self-injury includes strategies that involve both individuals and communities.

Parents, family members, teachers, school nurses, coaches or friends can help. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Nonsuicidal self-injury, often simply called self-injury, is the act of deliberately harming your own body, such as cutting or burning yourself.

Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Russell KR, et al. Identifying the signs of self-harm in students. Rochester, Minn. National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Accessed Oct. Edmondson AJ, et al. Non-suicidal reasons for self-harm: A systematic review of self-reported accounts. Journal of Affective Disorders. Butler JA. Self-directed violence and other forms of self-injury. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Teens may cut themselves on their wrists, arms, legs, hips, or stomachs. Most teens that cut are not attempting suicide — it is usually an attempt to feel better.

Although some people who cut attempt suicide, the attempts are usually due to the problems and pain that lie behind the desire to self-harm, not the cutting itself. The reason teens cut can be hard to understand. They may be trying to cope with intense pressure, pain of some sort, or they could be dealing with feelings that seem too difficult to bear. Some teens cut because they want relief from feelings of sadness, rejection, or emptiness and do not know how else to deal with them.

Cutting may provide temporary relief from these feelings, but the underlying problem is that the reason for cutting still exists. Cutting does not solve the issue but instead only masks the problems and can lead to several other complications. Cutting can become a compulsive behavior — the more one does it, the more he or she feels the need to do it.

It is also possible to misjudge the depth of a cut, making it so deep that it requires stiches. Cuts can also become infected if a person uses a non-sterile instrument. If you engage in cutting, know that there are healthier ways to deal with troubles than cutting.