Cutting is a way some people try to cope with the pain of strong emotions intense pressure, or upsetting relatingship prolems.Cutting is a type of self-injury, or SI. Most people who cut are girls, but guys self-injure, too. People who cut usually start cutting in their young teens. Some continue to cut into adulthood. People may cut themselves on their wrists, arms, legs, or bellies. Some people self-injure by burning their skin with the end of a cigarette or lighted match. When cut or burns heal, they often leave scars or marks. People who injure themselves usually hide the cuts and marks and sometimes no one else knows Why do people cut themselves? It can be hard to understand why people cut themselves on purpose. Some people cut because they feel desperate for relief from bad feelings. People who cut may not know better ways to get relief from emotional pain or pressure. Some people cut to express strong feelings of rage, sorrow, rejection, desperation,longing or emptiness. But people who may not have developed ways to cope. Or their coping skills may be overpowered by emotions that are too intense. When emotions don’t get expressed in a healthy way, tension can build up-sometimes to a point where it seems almost unbearable. Cutting may be an relieve attempt to that extreme tension. For some, it seems like a way of feeling in control. The urge to cut might be triggered by strong feelings the person can’t express-such as anger, hurt, shame, frustration, or alienation.
