Is it normal i don't see what's wrong with cutting?

27% Normal
28 Comments

People always tell me that cutting shows lack of coping mechanisms, etc. But I don't see what's so bad about it. It's just something that I like to do- it feels nice, and I think that the cuts look beautiful. I never cut deep enough to leave any major scarring, I always use a clean razor, and I'm not hurting anyone. No one even knows. It's less harmful than smoking or even drinking. I don't see what's so bad about it. IIN?

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27% Normal
Based on 101 votes (27 yes)
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Comments ( 28 )
  • NeuroNeptunian
    11 years ago

    You're putting yourself at risk for death or infection as well as creating scars which will be visible for the rest of your life and harm your chances of employment as you will be seen as mentally unstable.

    I don't care if you take every step to ensure that your cutting is perfectly sterile and hygienic, you are still creating another pathway for bacteria to enter your blood stream and not all bacteria can be prevented from entering into your blood stream by simple anti-septic measures.

    You are needlessly putting your body at excessive risk for infection. No matter how safe you are and how hygienic you are being, there is no such thing as safe enough when it comes to purposefully putting your body and life on the line for some momentary pleasure. I don't care how many medical wikipedia articles that you have read. Even the most experienced and skilled doctors, nurses and EMTs lose patients due to sepsis and other bacterial infections and I *HIGHLY* doubt that you are an experiences medical professional.

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    • VioletTrees
      11 years ago

      I'm not the OP, but I used to self-injure by cutting, so I'd like to weigh in on this.

      There are lots of risky things that are much more socially acceptable than self injury. I used to volunteer at a can shelter, and I was far more likely to get an infection from being scratched or bitten by one of the cats than I was from cutting myself with a clean blade (this also goes for owning a cat). People aren't nearly as shocked if you ride a motorcycle, get piercings, go rock climbing, or ski, even those are all risky behaviours done for temporary pleasure. I have a chronic syncope disorder, and every time I stand up, I risk falling and sustaining a potentially deadly head injury. But I'm an adult, so I assess that risk and decide what to do for myself.

      Also, even if a cut does get infected, if you watch for the signs and see a doctor if it looks like it is, you can get antibiotics, just like with a regular cut that wasn't self inflicted. You really don't know how much risk the OP is at, because you don't know how often, how severely, or where they cut. Unless you're trying to cut very deep, accidentally severing an artery or vein would be extremely difficult.

      There's something very unsettling to me about this sentence: "No matter how safe you are and how hygienic you are being, there is no such thing as safe enough when it comes to purposefully putting your body and life on the line for some momentary pleasure." The trouble is that that's almost exactly the same argument used for sexual abstinence. Abstinence is fine, but it's not something that should be pushed on other people, and that argument is fallacious. I can't speak for other self-injurers, of course, but when I used to cut, I wasn't doing it to put my life on the line, I was doing it because it made me feel better. So "purposefully putting your body and life on the line" didn't apply to me. There can be an element of self punishment, but that's usually not the real motive behind it.

      My point isn't that self-injury is perfectly healthy, it's that the stigma attached to it has nothing to do with real risk and everything to do with the fact that people associate it with mental illness. People who know basically nothing about infections still often recoil at the idea of people cutting themselves, and they don't have the same reaction to more socially acceptable behaviours, even if those behaviours are riskier than cutting.

      Self injury can be indicative of a deeper problem that needs to be addressed, but that's basically nobody's business except the self injurer.

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      • NeuroNeptunian
        11 years ago

        My argument still stands. I was not talking about the health risks of other self-medicating practices I was talking about why cutting is not advisable.

        I know full well of the social stigma, I did it for years. Life in general carries a risk of harming yourself but when you cut yourself you choose to be harmed whereas most people don't choose to get scratched by a cat and I can't speak for piercing or tattoos, my ears were pierced not entirely according to my will. I generally don't debate body art as I know nothing of it.

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        • VioletTrees
          11 years ago

          Right, but the usual harm from cutting is superficial. I was referring to your warnings about infection. When you self injure, you're not choosing to get an infection, you're just risking one.

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          • NeuroNeptunian
            11 years ago

            No, you're choosing to put yourself at risk for an infection.

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            • VioletTrees
              11 years ago

              No more than you're choosing to put yourself at risk of crashing when you drive a car, or falling when you go climbing, or allergic reaction when you try a new food.

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            • shade_ilmaendu
              11 years ago

              The point here is I think that if you used that argument all the time, we wouldn't get pierced or tattoos or skateboard or ride bikes or drive cars or do anything even remotely dangerous.

              I feel like a better reason to argue against cutting is the fact that you could accidentally cut too deep, you could kill yourself. And psychologically, it'll fuck you up. I've been there. It's not a fun place and I never want to go back there.

              But at the same time that I think cutting for release is bad, I love body modification. I would like to someday get a professional scarification done, something to be a symbol of me never scarring myself for the wrong reason again...

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  • Sia327
    11 years ago

    I used to cut and I felt so good about it at the time. The reason it feels good is because of the release of endorphins, however this means that by releasing these endorphins so many times it makes you crash eventually and feel empty or even numb which sucks and makes you cut again hence creating a cycle. Although you may not see the damage it's only because of your mental state when really you're stuck inside this cycle and you need help trust me I've been there and it got to a horrible point. Eventually the light cutting stops releasing endorphins so your going to go deeper. What your feeling is normal and I'm so sorry your going through this, however perhaps try to stop, maybe snap a rubber band over your wrist? It helped me. It's an addiction and it's just as serious as drugs or alcohol. Best of luck and love <3

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  • MonicaLee99
    11 years ago

    Wow, of you're going to say something like 'You're crazy, get help.' then don't comment. If you think that, then you just don't get it. People do feel hurt and they do that, it's not for attention do shut up.

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  • KeddersPrincess
    11 years ago

    -_-

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  • Avant-Garde
    11 years ago

    On one hand, yes it's normal, but on the other it isn't... True drinking and smoking aren't typically very healthy but it depends on what you're using. For instance, if you drank one glass of wine a day you'd gain so many health benefits. However, with cutting if make one false move, you could be dead within hours... I used to cut too, but it wasn't in the usual places... As much as I enjoyed it and found it relaxing, the stress and questioning from others was so unbearable that I had to stop. You to try to curb this "urge". Try cutting food or take up a hobby instead.

    Good luck!
    his
    urge"

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    • VioletTrees
      11 years ago

      As somebody who's attempted suicide, I assure you that it's very difficult to make yourself bleed out with a small razor blade. You'd have to be trying to do it.

      I agree with most of your other advice, though.

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  • Couman
    11 years ago

    The haters are sure out in force today.

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  • alv1592
    11 years ago

    It's not a healthy way to cope with problems. If you cut too much and lose too much blood, you very well may die. I'm not saying smoking and drinking are proper ways to deal with problems either; you do have a point there. If you have depression or other emotional problems, ask a doctor about anti-depressants. I have depression and medications do help. Or if you're having personal problems, find someone to talk to, and remember that all problems in life are temporary. But self-harm of any kind is not the answer. Good luck, hopefully whatever's wrong will get better soon.

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  • Redcoats
    11 years ago

    Because self harm is normal. Yeah. Right. Seek professional help please.

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  • bananaface
    11 years ago

    But it is harmful, to yourself. It seems like self destructive behaviour. And I think loads of people are self destructive, some more so than others. However, cutting leaves visible scars and your putting your self destructive behaviour on display, you can't escape it. Whereas alcohol isn't as visible or as obvious. It can do more damage but I guess it's easier to forget and ignore that (because most of the damage is internal). Sort of like an out of sight out of mind type thing, I guess you could say.

    Well, that's just my opinion. Not sure how accurate it is, but it's just what I'm thinking at the minute:).

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  • noid
    10 years ago

    No, it's not normal to cut your skin and then think the cut looks beautiful.

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  • KeddersPrincess
    11 years ago

    Well, if you like to cut, then by all means...

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  • iloveorange12
    11 years ago

    Don't cut yourself it really isn't good
    It really is hurting someone..... YOU

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  • DudeUrFuglyXox
    11 years ago

    i think everyone self harms in someway or another, cutting is just very extreme and can be dangerous and cause permanent damage

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  • jessicababy33
    11 years ago

    Please try cutting carrots ? Or maybe some potatoes?

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  • squeeeshie
    11 years ago

    It means you are weak and demand attention

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