What is the big problem with cutting??

Question

Okay, yes I cut myself to feel better, alive, grounded, like I am a real living being. I don't understand what the big deal is about someone cutting themselves. I was once mental hygiene arrested because I was in my car cutting alone in a parking lot and some one must have seen me. I don't get why I was taken and brought to the er. Can someone please explain why it is so bad??

Answer 1

It's a sign that you don't have the appropriate methods for dealing with your problems.

Answer 2

well i actually dont know either cuz ive been cutting too

Answer 3

First of all, the person that said cutting leads to suicide is WRONG.  Cutting is a coping method to keep you alive.  It is not at all associated with suicide.

Second, I guess people think it is "wrong" because it is a way of harming yourself and causing damage to you.  Scars, tissue damage, self-esteem etc.  

And I agree with you.  Why is cutting so bad???

Why is smoking a better coping method than cutting?  Smoking causes lung cancer and emphysema.  

Why is over-eating a better coping mechanism that cutting?  Over-eating makes a person obese and at risk for diabetes, heart attacks, etc.

Why is drinking a better coping mechanism than cutting?  Drinking can lead to mental decline and death.

None of these are any better and in fact, with cutting you are not hurting anyone else.  Smoking produces tobacco smoke that others are exposed to, drinking..well you could drive drunk and hurt others.

Cutting is just another coping mechanism.  If you are comfortable with it, then really no problem.

Answer 4

Try to think of a continuum.  On one end is “normal” however you describe that. Or if you can’t think of “normal” think of no harm. On the other end think of suicide. So the line will look something like this

Normal (no harm) ---------------------Suicide

Now every point on this line includes so form of harm. . . using drugs, over/under eating, excess exercising, reckless driving, pulling hair, fighting, cutting, burning, over working, drunk driving, whatever you can think of.

Because everything on the line is harmful, everything on it is not real good for ones health.  If you think about it, people make a fuss about drug use, undereating, drunk driving, cutting, suicide, literally everything on the line.

Does this help you understand why people worry when someone cuts?

EDIT - I am sorry that this didn't make sense so I will try again.

And - I am not saying that cutting leads to suicide, I was just trying to explain why some think cutting is so bad using suicide as an example. Cutting is not considered a suicidal act or attempt.

Ok - cutting causes harm to the body (I know that you understand that). When someone does anything that harms the body or mutilate it, there will people who will think it is wrong. When people are sleeved (tattooed from shoulder to wrist) there are those who think it is wrong. When someone does drugs or alcohol, there are those who think that it wrong. When someone exercises too much, to the point that they are making themselves sick, there are people who think that it wrong. Anything that someone does that isn't considered normal is considered wrong/bad/weird by others.

Since cutting is not part of what society consideres normal, people think of it as bad. There are many people who don't understand why someone would cut. They are the ones who consider it so bad.

In your situation, the person who called the police probably did not understand why someone would be sitting in a parking lot cutting themselves. They got scared and called the police. When the police are called into a situation like that, their only option is to take the person to the ER to insure that they are going to be ok - ie safe.

In short - it isn't understood by many people, they don't know what to do when they see someone who is or even has cut and they over-react.

Let me know if this makes sense - cathy

Answer 5

well... you see cutting is a form of self harm and in some cases it can go a little over the top and so the big deal is that people dont understand your motives for cutting and thus well they assume the worst the er part not to sure about but yea and another reasion that theres a big fuss over this is becouse it could couse serious internal injury like u could cut a vital vein or somthing and some time cutters dont only cut them selves but some times they do drugs too  

Answer 6

its self harm,and usually  people think diffrent of you. if you wanna feel like a real living being, pinch yourself or something, cutting isnt worth it. :(

Answer 7

It's an addiction that you need to seek professional help for. Something's not right in your brain and a specialist can help you with that. Sometimes it just requires the help from a psychologist and for others medicine may be required.

People with addictions never seem to see the problem with it. Just think of other addictions - drugs, alcohol, anorexia etc. People don't realize they have a problem until they get help.

Cutting is not normal and can hurt you in the long run (as well as your family & friends) and possibly kill you.

Do yourself a favor and confide in someone and get the help you need.

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To cathywyo:

It doesn't really sound like you answered the question that was asked. I don't think you should have mentioned that you are a therapist as your answer was really bad.

Answer 8

You may accidently cut to deep.

Answer 9

Because if you have to cut to feel alive there is a problem, it's only a big deal because people care about you even if you don't

Answer 10

it is a sign of a mental illness, that often leads to suicide.  just because you feel you arent hurting others doesnt mean you arent.