Okay, before I start this, I'd like to point out that a lot of this deals with statistics and stuff. This is a broad subject, and everyone's case can not be summed up in the same sentence. If you have any questions, or want something posted, contact me, my e-mail is on the bottom of this page, and on the homepage, and basically just everywhere.

 

It's called many things, the following are some, but note that these are included--not limited to:

self-inflicted violence

Self-injury

self-harm

parasuicide

delicate cutting

self-abuse

self-mutilation

 

Self-injury is a disorder affecting approximately 1% of the United States population. It usually begins in late childhood or adolecence, and most cutters are women. Self-mutilation is often, though not neccessarily, connected with borderline personality disorder. People who cut themselves are no more psychotic than people who drown their sorrows in a bottle of vodka. Self-injury is used to cope with problems or emtions just as alcoholism, drug abuse, overeating, anorexia, bulimia, workaholism, and smoking cigarettes are, but it's not as understandable by most people, or as accepted by society.  Some forms of self-abuse include (again, are not limited to):

Carving

Scratching

Branding

Marking

Burning

Biting

Cutting

Bruising

Head-Banging

Hitting

Picking or pulling skin and hair

 

Although those who have commit suicide may or may not have cut themselves, cutting is NOT an attempt at suicide. Self-harm is, speaking broadly, an attempt to change a state of mind or mood by inflicting pain to one's self. Studies have suggested that when people who self-injure get emotionally overwhelmed, an act of self-harm brings their levels of psychological tension and arousal back to a bearable level almost immediately. In other words, when a person who cuts get distressed (in whatever way it may be, guilt, anxiety, rejection, etc) they feel (as most people do) aggitated and jittery. When they cut, they may still feel bad (or they may not), but they don't have that panicky, jittery trapped feeling; it's a calm bad feeling. Most often, cutters do not even feel the pain. When they cut, the body releases endorphins, basically resulting in an adrenaline rush.

 

In abuse survivors, it is often an attempt to re-enact and master the abuse. Many people (not only survivors of abuse) feel powerless and this may be a way to control their lives and emotions. Sometimes it can be a form of self-punishment; if one feels worthless or guilty this may be a form of penance and lessen the pain.

 

This last part is most likely going to upset some people, and like I said before, there are exeptions to every rule--but keep in mind that because it is a "rule" it is true for most.  Cutters do not like to admit this (and in most cases won't), but generally self-harm is a call for attention or for help.

 

If you know somebody who cuts, do not try to force them to stop. It will only cause hostility and make the matters worse. When (or if) they stop, they need to do it because they feel they're ready. Interacting with others who cut is not generally a good idea. Those who cut for attention will tell you that it is (but generally because they can get the most attention from these people--it will be a subject talked about often), but it isn't. They feel guilty for not being able to help their friend, but at the same time feel that they need to "out-do" the other person, and talks of suicide generate frequently. The best thing to do for these people is let them talk about their emotions, but do not re-act too severly. If you act shocked, they'll want more, if you don't re-act at all, they'll feel that they aren't doing enough, and it will get worse. But it is important that you are there to listen to them. Even if they are doing it for attention, that usually is masking a deeper problem.