Self-Harm

Korzic · Post by **Korzic** » 10/8/2004, 7:00 am

But that doesn't answer the basic question of... WHY CUT? why not ride a bike? why not run around in circles etc. Why is cutting so much better than everything else?

Here's a list compiled by an excutter of alternate things to do to avoid cutting.

151 things to do instead of cutting

Thats one thing, another suggested that you have a positive list and a negative list. +ve list being things that are constructive. ie bike riding etc
-ve list being not so constructive. ie really cold shower or eating a chilli. Sure they aren't the best things to do to yourself but theyre betting that turning your arm into map of the New York subway.

Maybe its the pain? Snort pepper. I guarantee you'll be in pain after that.
maybe it's the symbolism of the cuts. Draw them on in red marker. If really necessary use red dye.

I pulled all these ideas from the Self Harm Awareness Group or something in the UK. They have a buncha forums and stuff and I gave them a quick skim through.

Please don't jump down my throat and dismiss me. I'm interested to learn why you think that cutting is the answer instead of running along the beach.

closeyoureyes · Post by **closeyoureyes** » 10/8/2004, 8:23 am

Why must you have an opinion about things that have nothing to do with you? You dont understand it, so I truly think you shouldnt be talking about it. I can understand how you want to understand, but unless you do it, its very difficult to.

xoNoDoubt69 · Post by **xoNoDoubt69** » 10/8/2004, 8:27 am

exactly. it's not easy for some people to just stop. i really don't see why if anyone cuts that they need to justify to you why they do it instead of something you think is better. and if you've never done anything like this, you really have no right to say "oh why don't u just stop and do something else to ease your pain." it's just not that simple.

Joey · Post by **Joey** » 10/8/2004, 8:52 am

that list was the funniest thing ever :lol:

oh i feel like dying .. i know! let's have sex! even better! i'll hug myself!
come on now :lol:

NO! i want to build a pillow fort! hahahaha .. oh man i needed that :lol:

ahahha "read things in a different language" ???? yes that will frustrate and confuse me even more! :lol:

draw on the walls? sorry my mom doesn't let me do that .. throw a temper tantrum?? what did a 4 year old make up that list?

oh man it just keeps getting better and better: "throw socks at the wall" .. ohhh "pray" ... cuz that will work .. OH! putting on fake nails ... at least i'll die with pretty nails :lol:

oh yeah .. nothing will take away that feeling of pending death like doing a self tan on yourself :lol:

... take up fencing? so i can stab other people? :mrgreen:

no logic whatsoever went into making up that list .. :freak:

nelison · Post by **nelison** » 10/8/2004, 10:02 am

There's just as much logic there as there is with cutting, sorry to say.

Dr. Hobo · Post by **Dr. Hobo** » 10/8/2004, 10:47 am

ummm.. last time i checked, a lot of shit people do isnt logical
nor is it rational

if you consider people willingly smoke nicotine (a carcinogen) in the form of cigarettes which are full of yet, more carcinogens thus increasing the likelihood of them acquiring a disease like, oh.. cancer.

that isnt logical to me
i dont see the logic in willingly putting chemicals into my body for example (before someone takes my example too literally, yes i do drink and this was, of course, just an example). you dont see the logic in cutting.. cutting is a problem, its also an addiction and a disease and should be treated as such, given that it is a disease it cant just "go away" per se and those who do cut, arent (always) willingly going to get the help they need or even if they are, they arent going to know how to get the help they need.

Joey · Post by **Joey** » 10/8/2004, 1:42 pm

J-Neli wrote:There's just as much logic there as there is with cutting, sorry to say.

you just don't understand the logic behind the whole thought process leading up to it ..
so it's easy to say that about something you don't understand

Cole · Post by **Cole** » 10/8/2004, 7:51 pm

Korzic wrote:151 things to do instead of cutting

You're not understanding me...
That list is a bunch of things that someone else who doesn't understand cutting thinks would be better things to do instead of cutting. :roll:

Painting my nails or watching a TV show isn't going to give me the same feeling as cutting does that takes away the thoughts, nor is it going to change what gives me the thoughts. So if I actually went ahead and followed what it says to do instead of cuttng, I would eventually end up in a mental aslum because someone caught me in a strange episode of drawing on myself and having a pillow fight with the walls. :freak:

That whole list is pointless.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » 10/8/2004, 8:06 pm

I think the idea of the list is supposed to just keep you busy until the feeling passes. Thats my interpretation of it anyway, but I could be wrong.

Joey · Post by **Joey** » 10/8/2004, 8:08 pm

yeah well the feeling won't pass easily by throwing socks at the wall :lol:

we have a way to make the feeling pass quickly, which is how i for one need it to pass, just because you people don't understand it or aren't comfortable with it, we have to change? keeping "busy" isn't going to make suicidal thoughts disappear .. painting my nails isn't going to make the feeling pass, that list is a joke.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » 10/8/2004, 8:13 pm

I wouldn't imagine throwing socks would make it pass easily, i was just stating what I thought the article was trying to say. I'll admit to not knowing much about cutting so therefore I don't hold an opinion really. I do want to learn more...which I thought was the original reason of this thread but now it's sadly a debate.

Joey · Post by **Joey** » 10/8/2004, 8:15 pm

that's what happens when something so incredibly personal becomes the topic of a message board 'discussion.' :uh:

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » 10/8/2004, 8:17 pm

Truly, this board is just too big to hold a discussion this big and like I think it was you wasn't it Joey? That said it's a private thing and should be discussed privatley not a board like this.

Joey · Post by **Joey** » 10/8/2004, 8:55 pm

it wouldn't be so bad if people could keep an open mind and just try to understand instead of saying 'you have a problem' or 'you need help' or 'heres something else you could do instead' when meanwhile they have no clue what they're talking about. it's easy to stand on the outside and say oh you should do this or that when you're not the one actually in the situation .. there's a big difference between trying to understand someone and their situation, and trying to change that person and their way of thinking. you can't tell someone they're way of doing things and they're way of thinking is wrong, when you don't even understand it to begin with. it doesn't work that way.

Korzic · Post by **Korzic** » 10/9/2004, 7:58 am

But the whole point is you arent explaining it. All you people say is "oh its too hard to explain and you won't understand therefore I'm not going to tell you"

http://www.nshn.co.uk/index2.html I hauled that link from the forum they have there. I figured the National Self Harm Network in the UK knew what they were talking about. Heres the link to the thread http://www.nshn.co.uk/board/viewtopic.p ... 5dcb1633c3 I have a real good feeling these people have a better idea than what I do. I'm just sharing what THEY thought. I will concede the fact that pro. help aint for everyone though.

nelison · Post by **nelison** » 10/9/2004, 11:48 am

I have to agree with korzic. Imagine you were in our shoes, and someone was hacking themselves, and telling you that that was okay and there was nothing wrong with it. Wouldn't you think there was a problem with that person?

Joey · Post by **Joey** » 10/9/2004, 4:41 pm

It's not our responsibility to make you understand. Nor do we have to justify our methods and our motives because you don't get it. I'm not going to explain why or how I do it anymore then I already have because this is something PERSONAL and why or how I do things is not up for debate so you can stop throwing all the pointless links out. I've researched self injury to great lengths and I understand the whys and hows of it just fine.

Waiting to Exist · Post by **Waiting to Exist** » 10/9/2004, 4:52 pm

My mother went through this sort of thing back when I was in sixth grade. It pissed me off to no end. Don't get me wrong, I was supportive (not of the cutting, of the fixing herself), but goddamn, it's a wonder I didn't sock her right then and there.

EDIT: word choice.
EDIT2: By the way, the moral of the story is, "Cutters, know that you're not helping yourself, you're just pissing the people who care about you off."

Joey · Post by **Joey** » 10/9/2004, 5:26 pm

yeah because with people who cut it's ALL about pissing off the people who love us :roll:

you would think since someone so close to you went through something like that you would know not to say something so dumb. and if pissed off is an emotion you feel when a loved one who cuts confronts you, it's not the cutter with the problem, it's you.

Waiting to Exist · Post by **Waiting to Exist** » 10/9/2004, 5:44 pm

What the hell are you on about? I still loved her. I even supported her and kept my anger bottled up. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to come off as Mr. Brave-and-Noble or some shit, but don't try and kid me by saying I have a problem for being pissed because my mother can't deal with her own shit.