why do people cut theirselves?

[jbloveee]

Why is it that people cut theirselves because of depression or whatever it is that they feel?
I personally cut myself before, not anymore, but I scratch myself when I get fustrated & annoyed.
in the moment, I do it like whatever & don't really care what I do to myself, but after I just look at my scratches & be like "what the hell is this?! Why do I do this?!" I just react in the moment I guess..
But my question is, what urges people to do this to themselves? Why can't I stop after I accepted to stop?!

[rogelio63]

I've heard a lot of non-mentally ill (that doesn't sound right but I don't know how else to put it) use the cliche,,oh it's just a cry for help.
With me, that's exactly what it was.  I felt like I was invisible.  That I was one of those people in the crowd that would make a good spy because they never left an impression.  I felt like that if they saw the blood, they would notice me and help me.  Sometimes it worked.
I don't do it anymore.  I'm in a different place now.  I'd rather people didn't notice me.

[thatquietgirl]

It's the endorphin release that gets people addicted to it or at least makes them want to do it again as a go-to when they feel a certain way.  The mood that drives the person to it varies as well.

From personal experience, stopping's not easy at all.  I went two years and then had a relapse.  It's been almost two years since that, and I have had such urges at various points during that time, but I've kept myself from it simply because of how my boyfriend reacted.  He didn't act like it was disturbing.  All I saw in his face was concern and he just held me and asked me why I did it and got me to talk about what was bugging me.  For me, my trigger is stress from unhealthy relationships with my parents.  I haven't had the urge as much since leaving that house.

My therapist offered this trick to overcome cutting, and it did help: When you feel the urge, go to your freezer, pull out an ice cube and hold it.  Let it melt completely, even when it starts burning because your hand's so cold.  While it's melting, go put in a funny (or at least not depressing) movie and/or music or start a positive activity you enjoy.

Hang in there!  Accept you are where you are, that you are human and can relapse, that it's not easy, but that you can do it.  It just takes time and patience and persistence.