How do you feel about people harming themselves?

Question

I've had to deal with something I've got very strong beliefs against recently.. I was just wondering what other people about people cutting their wrists etc..?

Answer 1

Usually, that is a call for help on an emotional or psychological level.  Years ago, I had a friend who was always cutting himself.  I tried my best to be there for him, but it was overwhelming, to say the least.  I finally had to distant myself from him.  I recently learned that he eventually went into therapy and is much happier with a family and a good job.  I'm glad things worked out for him.  Not everyone has a happy ending.

Answer 2

It depends if it's being done for attention or for a true medical problem.

No one is ever going to understand it until they harm themselves in that moment of desperation and severe depression.  People don't do enough research on why people cut themselves and then they judge them too quickly.  Not all people who harm themselves are the same.  Some, as I said do it for attention and they should be shunned upon. Like a 2 year old having a tantrum, it should be ignored.  If it someone who is doing it for serious reasons, it needs to be taken seriously! Most people that cut are amazingly not sucidal.  They cut to survive, which I know sounds odd.  

I cut for a year; several times a day.  Then, one day I didn't need it anymore and quit.  It was the hardest thing I did. And yes; I look to it automatically as soon as I am having a really bad day, but I would NEVER cut again and never will.  It is a horrible place to be and I dont' wish that upon anyone.  I haven't cut in over 4 years.  **Please note I never had a physcologist help me.  I went to 4 different ones when I was cutting and none even seemed to care.  Most said "well, as long as you dont kill yourself I dont see the issue".

Please don't judge people that harm themselves.  you have NO idea what they are going through, thinking, experiencing.  It is not your place to judge their actions.

Answer 3

I feel sorry for those who are afflicted by this problem and obviously they need psychological help.  

Answer 4

I used to cut/burn my arms,legs and tummy.Ive had lots to work through and can truly empathise with other self harmer's.Just remember they are probably hurting inside and need your support not pity.  

Answer 5

I used to harm myself, as i went through 6 years of domestic violence, i couldn't fight back so the only way i could let my anger and sadness out was to hurt myself. My parents got me together with a very good psychiatrist, and as a family and with the proffesional help, we got it sorted out, before it got worse. It isn't the way to deal with problems or the cleverest. I wouldn't judge a person if they were doing it, i'd really try to talk and help them.  

Answer 6

People who do this are obviously in need of help and should be encouraged to seek it.

Answer 7

Some do it on purpose for attention and that's pathetic. But I feel sympathy for those who genuinly need to use it as a release from their pain.  

Answer 8

It certainly isn't a healthy thing to do, but sometimes someones pain is so bad, cutting themselves is the only way they can get relief. I have great sympathy for people who hurt so bad the only thing they can do is cut themselves.

Answer 9

it can be a cry out for attention

the people who do it generally have very low self esteem and normal through no fault of their own. they have often suffered from disturbing things in there past (violent parents, sexual abuse etc) and they just don't know how to cope.

or they get really angry, but because they don't want to hurt anybody (often like their parents) they do it to themselves as they think that they are helping the people around them because they are not hurting them, but really they are hurting them more than if they just got angry sometimes.

its a sad thing for somebody to have to see their friends / family do, there is a better way of coping, but many people dont realise

Answer 10

it is a CONTROL issue. sometimes cutting is the only thing that a person can control in there lives.when they cut there arms, they are in charge for a brief minute. it is a disease like  alcoholism. no matter how long  since you had a drink, you are still an alcoholic.just like her, she didnt do  it for a long time, but she is still a cutter, and she was waiting for a vulnerable minute for that to come emerging back through, and it did. i feel bad for her. someday she may accidently slit to bad and bleed out. it is very scary.

Answer 11

I think it's quite sick, but the person is probably suffering in their mind. A councilor is a painless way to get this anguish out of there heads. Cutting wrists is probably a psychological issue that can be dealt with using a psychiatrist.