Why do people cut themselves?

[Joel]

I am watching 'Prozac Nation' right now starring Christina Ricci (good movie by the way). In the film she plays a depressed woman with multiple problems which are happening because of her depression. It's a deadly, ugly cycle.

she cuts herself a few times in the movie and I'm wondering why do people do this? Is it a control thing? Is it a coping mechanism?

I guess I'm not understanding this because I can't relate.

 

[95NSXT]

Never seen or heard of the movie but was she trying to kill herself or just to do it?

I don't think there is an answer to your question though without making a big generalization. Some people probably do it to try to kill themselves, some for attention, some for other psychological issues I'd assume.

But then again maybe we weren't talking about cutting yourself like slitting your wrist so maybe I took this waaaaay off topic

 

[fannsx]

I worked at a psuchiatric hospital for a few years. I have seen people cutting themselves. Most are for attention hoping someone will notice the cuts. This is more common in the younger age group. You rarely see it in the geriatric ward.

 

[Joel]

But then again maybe we weren't talking about cutting yourself like slitting your wrist so maybe I took this waaaaay off topic

I don't think it's suicidal. At least I don't think.
Sometimes it's the wrist. Other time it's a part of a leg...

 

[Pacemaker Kid89]

Some kids if not a bunch in my HS do it. It's based off of the Emotional Music genre or EMO. These are depressed kids who listen to rock music of some kind...like a form of depressing punk and they cut their wrists and arms to make them feel better....I dunno some crap like that. If I ever get depressed all I do is play Forza or watch some movies.

Other kids do it just becuase of a simple thing: Loss of girl/boyfriend, parents, school work...teen stuff.

 

[rickysals]

If I ever get depressed all I do is play Forza or watch some movies.

There's depressed, and there's depressed.

I know close to 10 cutters. Every person has at one time been subjjected to some kind of abuse/mental disorder. One girl was diagnosed with depression, another bipolar, two others have abusive fathers. He's not talking about trying to commit suicide-cutting... some young people will grab a razor and just make slits along their upperarms, or upperthigh, to deal with emotional pain.

I don't know why people do it, but then again, I don't do it. It's very sad

 

[|Adeel]

I think some younger people do it when they feel that they are in a situation that's completely hopless and really bad no matter what they do.

And they get sooo depressed that they cut them selfs to let som of the anger out.

Never done this but I know that when I was (WAS, not now ) in a hopeless situation and were really angry I had so much anger that I could punch the wall as hard as I could and really not feel much pain. Maybe because I just wanted to let some of the anger out. I'm sure I would have broken a bone if I hit the same wall when "in normal working condition" :tongue: But this could be different thou'.

I agree with fannsx, some might do it as a sign for help. Maybe do it so someone will notice it and talk with the cutter, instead of directly taking the subject up for someone else.