A recent report published in The New York Times says, “Anonymous surveys among college students suggest that 17 percent of them have self-injured, and experts estimate that self-injury is practiced by 15 percent of the general adolescent population.” In fact, every news organization is ringing the alarm about the “trend” of cutting. But it seems that no one is getting to the core of this issue. To me, the story is not so much that so many of us are cutting; the question in my mind is why are we cutting?
In 6th grade there was an issue of me being involved with the whole cutting scene and at first in didnt seem like any big thing to me. If you did it, you did it. Self mutilation? I dont get it. One cut...not that big of a deal. Well it was. (I know Im not being really clear on if I did it or not and Im doing that on purpose. Being so vague about it might bring you to the conclusion that I did do it but if I dont say it straight out how much truth is there in that huh?) I’ve read a variety of forums on this issue and as far as I can see, everyone admits that cutting is painful; so why are so many people still doing it? (Ritorical question. I know why)
"Skin is a bulletin board," said Linda Lebelle, director of Focus Adolescent Services. "They're saying, 'Can you see how much pain I'm in?’” Sure that sounds good in a clinical sense, but depression has been on the rise since the 80s and cutting has only seen a growth in popularity in the last few years. Funny thing is, alot of people that cut arent even depressed. Doesnt make much sense does it? Well, it does to them. At that point is not called cutting, its scarring. Ill write another post on this. In the very very near future.
Some teens cite the thrill or high that comes from the experience as their impetus. "Cutting releases anger and frustration," wrote 17-year-old Abby. "By cutting, it lets it out-- bleeds it out. It is the most exciting, dangerous feeling I have ever felt." Another anonymous teen concurred, telling Women’s E News, “It started out as a weird thrill.. I admit that I was strangely addicted to the feeling of dragging the razor across my skin. I liked the way my hair would stand on end as I watched the blood trickle from every cut I made." The more I looked, the more “thrill,” “high,” “control” and “trend” started appearing in the cutting conversation. Now, I’m no statistician by any stretch of the imagination, but when the majority of unmoderated sites are mentioning the same three or four major reasons for one act, I’ve got to figure that’s probably closer to the root of the problem than the hypothesis given by “health professionals.”
Cutting is not like piercing or tattooing, which are both forms of artistic expression. Cutting is a destructive mean of expression that could lead to serious injury and should not be taken lightly. An appropriate analogy might very well be jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge. Sure, it seems exciting at the time—especially when everyone else is doing it—but then it has that whole lasting effect of your ending up dead, which is not quite as cool. In most respects, I think we could all agree that there are more effective ways to gain control over our lives and more acceptable ways of finding a thrill. Alot of people who cut dont even realize how serious it is until its too late and theyre being driven in an ambulance to the hostpital. If you know anyone that cuts, please talk to them. I dont mean just say, "Oh cutting is bad. Now I mean seriously talk to them. Do research, print out articles, just be there for them. I know I might be thought of as strange for saying this but dont tell a school counselour. It wont help. Just talk to them and be a friend. In the end, if that isnt enough tell a trusted adult. Not a counselour. They cant be trusted. Why is this? Because they have an obligation to tell parents and though this might not seem like a problem, it is. If the cutter is rushed into being "fixed" by parents and counselour it could run them into an even worse state of depression and they could end up being drugged up and put into a mental instution when all they really needed was a good friend. My main point, be a good friend and just listen
In 6th grade there was an issue of me being involved with the whole cutting scene and at first in didnt seem like any big thing to me. If you did it, you did it. Self mutilation? I dont get it. One cut...not that big of a deal. Well it was. (I know Im not being really clear on if I did it or not and Im doing that on purpose. Being so vague about it might bring you to the conclusion that I did do it but if I dont say it straight out how much truth is there in that huh?) I’ve read a variety of forums on this issue and as far as I can see, everyone admits that cutting is painful; so why are so many people still doing it? (Ritorical question. I know why)
"Skin is a bulletin board," said Linda Lebelle, director of Focus Adolescent Services. "They're saying, 'Can you see how much pain I'm in?’” Sure that sounds good in a clinical sense, but depression has been on the rise since the 80s and cutting has only seen a growth in popularity in the last few years. Funny thing is, alot of people that cut arent even depressed. Doesnt make much sense does it? Well, it does to them. At that point is not called cutting, its scarring. Ill write another post on this. In the very very near future.
Some teens cite the thrill or high that comes from the experience as their impetus. "Cutting releases anger and frustration," wrote 17-year-old Abby. "By cutting, it lets it out-- bleeds it out. It is the most exciting, dangerous feeling I have ever felt." Another anonymous teen concurred, telling Women’s E News, “It started out as a weird thrill.. I admit that I was strangely addicted to the feeling of dragging the razor across my skin. I liked the way my hair would stand on end as I watched the blood trickle from every cut I made." The more I looked, the more “thrill,” “high,” “control” and “trend” started appearing in the cutting conversation. Now, I’m no statistician by any stretch of the imagination, but when the majority of unmoderated sites are mentioning the same three or four major reasons for one act, I’ve got to figure that’s probably closer to the root of the problem than the hypothesis given by “health professionals.”
Cutting is not like piercing or tattooing, which are both forms of artistic expression. Cutting is a destructive mean of expression that could lead to serious injury and should not be taken lightly. An appropriate analogy might very well be jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge. Sure, it seems exciting at the time—especially when everyone else is doing it—but then it has that whole lasting effect of your ending up dead, which is not quite as cool. In most respects, I think we could all agree that there are more effective ways to gain control over our lives and more acceptable ways of finding a thrill. Alot of people who cut dont even realize how serious it is until its too late and theyre being driven in an ambulance to the hostpital. If you know anyone that cuts, please talk to them. I dont mean just say, "Oh cutting is bad. Now I mean seriously talk to them. Do research, print out articles, just be there for them. I know I might be thought of as strange for saying this but dont tell a school counselour. It wont help. Just talk to them and be a friend. In the end, if that isnt enough tell a trusted adult. Not a counselour. They cant be trusted. Why is this? Because they have an obligation to tell parents and though this might not seem like a problem, it is. If the cutter is rushed into being "fixed" by parents and counselour it could run them into an even worse state of depression and they could end up being drugged up and put into a mental instution when all they really needed was a good friend. My main point, be a good friend and just listen
