constructive advice on how to stop cutting?

courtnay · Silver Member Joined: 21 Mar 2002 Posts: 273

Hi, I am 18 years old, and I suffer from depression. I am full of dark thoughts and negative energy, and the only way to get it out is by cutting. I feel like my problems are flowing out with my blood, and I can’t stop doing that. Any constructive advice on how to stop cutting?

soule · Newbie Joined: 14 Mar 2005 Posts: 20

Hi, I had the same problem when I was about your age. I was depressed, because I didn’t think that I belonged in that time or place. I wanted to be far away from the urban society and from all those people. I didn’t have anyone to talk to, so I kept all those thoughts inside me. Eventually, I started cutting myself. I thought that it was helping me, and nothing else mattered. I am 23 years now, and I wish I have never done that. I am no longer depressed, but I still have many scars from cutting all over my hands and legs, and I have to hide them, because I’m embarrassed when someone asks me who did it to me. I don’t know how to say that it was me who took a knife and made those horrible scars. I don’t understand how could I be so childish and irresponsible to think that my depression will last forever! I strongly recommend you to stop cutting yourself, because in a few years you will realize what you have done, and you will be regretting it every day for the rest of your life.

Shane · Newbie Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 42

Hey mate,

a few of my friends have tried/done/doing this, and to be honest with you mate, it's makes you feel twice as bad i.e with all the scars the remain behind. I reccomend you stop cutting, and get a gym membership. Doing this will fill your spare time and make you more aware of your body and that cutting is only spoiling the body that you've got. The more happy you feel about yourself the more you won't want to do it.

Joining the Gym equals a fit body which equals, more self aware, which then equals girls to draw to you, which results in happiness in the bedroom along with your self awareness.

** In NO WAY am i asking you to become a male whore, but only to seek the girl of your dreams, and to be happy. a few nights out a week will do you the world of good mate honestly. My friends all regret what they've done they we're diagnosed with Bipolar, which isn't very nice it restricts you from doing all the good things in life, and makes you abit of the village idiot, and i'm sure you don't wanna be that. So the only answer, and the key to your success in life isn't Cutting yourself, it's grabbing every day as it comes, bad days take it on the chin, and get back up and think "and?! tommorows another day".

Hope this post helps mate, and i hope you get better, You will be happyer in yourself, and your friends/family will be happy with you aswell. For the best mate honestly!!

Good Luck! and all the best,
Shane

Guest · Guest

Hi,

I am also a cutter. have been for about 1 1/2 years. i have been making a diary a cutting diary, i keep it on my lap top and when ever i want to cutt i write in it. it has been helping alot. i always try that first and if it doesn't help. i cutt.

I was reading passages from another cutters diary and it's like she was writing about me. so in some way we all think alike.

if you want i could send you what i have so far. i'm not ashamed. but i do use a fake name all through it.

**edited by moderator**

Babylon_Angel · Newbie Joined: 01 May 2007 Posts: 22

In my experience, the need to cut comes and goes through the years. Sometimes it just wouldn't occur to you to do it. There's a certain combination of depression, feeling unable to help your situation and having the stimulus (like talking about self harm or reading about it on the net) that makes it almost inevitable if you've used it as a tool before, for feeling better.
The thing that stopped me from cutting was the shame. It gets to a point where you start to wake up to it, as others describe above. You sound like your there too. It feels like it helps, but the shame makes you think of other ways of dealing with the internal turmoil. Not taking anger out on yourself, but other objects is a good short term switch. Or just swallowing down the urge. The longer you avoid doing it, the easier it becomes to not do. it becomes less of a reflex and more a considered decision. Feeling your control over it is a start if you want it to stop being a part of you.

If you mood changes to a more positive state, the desire will disappear. Keeping a diary of how your feeling and what upsets you is a good self help therapy, which you may find more effective in the long run for dealing with your pain.

moo672 · Newbie Joined: 26 Jun 2007 Posts: 1

Write everything out.

youngin38 · Newbie Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 84

I personally am not a cutter so i dont understand the desire to do this. Whenever im feeling down i just express myself to anyone who will give me the time to listen. A friend of mine used to cut but i helped her stop. I told her how much it hurt me to see her hurt herself like that and she stopped pretty much cold turkey. I havent noticed any more cuts so i assume she has stopped. Whenever she has a problem i ask her to come to me and talk it out. This helps a lot more than cutting because she is getting that feeling out and not surpressing it into self destructiveness. The more and longer you bottle up bitter dark emotions the more likely you are to become suicidal which is the worst way to deal with something. If you cant find a friend to talk to get professional help. They have many places that you can get help from.

XxmandyxX · Newbie Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 21

mkkay. so ive been struggling with this for awhile too. 1 1/2 years. NOTHING helped. but i told one of my friends about it, and he pretty much just yelled at me for doing it. and he also threatened me that if he finds out i cut again, and he will find out cause i somehow talk about it in some way and he'll know, he wont talk to me again. that happened once for about 4 days, and i felt horrible cause i thought i actually lost him, but i begged him to give me one more chance. so right now, im at one month and 6 days. so im doing pretty good. i love him for doing that, cause i probably wouldnt have stopped without him. and just to let you know youngin, about 95% of the time, cutters will refuse professional help. i recomend that people that dont understand this kind of stuff, not help, because you dont know shit

constructive advice on how to stop cutting?

LIFEFORM SOCIAL COMMUNITY NETWORK