dr seuss
Bluelight Crew
cutting – a rough guide to self-harm & surrounding issues.
‘cutting’ is a loose term that refers to Deliberate Self-Harm Syndrome, or Repetitive Self-Harm Syndrome. many sufferers refer to themselves as cutters, or use SI for self-injury – e.g. ‘I SI once a month’. the methods, area & seriousness of the injuries can vary incredibly; most common are cuts to the arms, wrists, neck, upper torso, with genital mutilation also common. cutting with nails, broken glass, knives, razors, blades, needles, nails, scissors, ceramics – indeed anything that can pierce skin, often the more painful the better. SI can also take the form of swallowing batteries so the acid burns internal organs, swallowing glass, razor blades, needles, banging one’s head against objects or punching things repeatedly. pulling out hair, scratching or biting until blood is drawn, and interfering with wound healing are also very common behavioural patterns. cutting is a coping mechanism, often favoured by those who find it difficult to express their
emotions.
cutting can take the form of compulsive self harm, such as skin picking or hair pulling (note – often amphetamine psychosis or abuse can have similar effects) or impulsive self harm (when occasional self harm becomes repetitive).
it is important to stress that cutters are not usually mentally ill, nor are they suicidal – although they believe that death is coming soon. however, obviously any person experimenting with self harm is endangering themselves & possibly their lives.
it is estimated that 1.9million Americans are ‘cutters’; other estimates say 750 out of every 100,000 harm themselves. the media has a role to play in these numbers; while obviously music & film influences are just that, outside influences, acts like marilyn manson & slipknot often seem to actively support self-harm; there is a higher number of cutters amongst heavy, dark musical fan bases, but this is often more to do with the imagery & appeal of the music, rather than the music itself. similarly, movies have dealt with cutting in different guises & are influential in varying degrees.
one of the most defining images of self-injury came from the still missing Richey Edwards, of the manic street preachers. I have included a link since the image may be disturbing. richey
self injury is most prevalent amongst women between 13 – 30. however, it does strike people of all ages, races & social backgrounds. it is often an unconscious response to problems in the past; sufferers of incest or child abuse are much more likely to self harm. A study by Van der Kolk, Perry & Herman in 1991 cited neglect as the main cause of self-harm amongst children & adults. more of their work can be found here. it is important to recognise that cutting is a coping mechanism, and an outlet. if this is removed from someone’s life they may become suicidal or psychotic.
recognising true self-injury is important for onlookers. sexual pleasure, body art, religious ritual & peer pressure (i.e. fitting in with a cutting crowd) are not true indications. I have scars on my arms, but am not a cutter; rather it was teenage experimentation.
what causes cutting?
there are many, many different possible causatives. physical & emotional abuse of children, sexually & otherwise, neglect, a difficult or disrupted upbringing and extreme past traumas are the most common. however, surprisingly, there are also plenty of contraindicative cases that show that often self-harmers did not suffer from childhood abuse. the single most prevalent precursor to self-injury is what is called ‘invalidation’ or growing up in an invalidation environment. Linehan has described
an invalidating environment as such:
this is a surprisingly common environment, albeit often less extreme. everyone knows the perfect student who’s mother or father pushed them beyond belief, who was never good enough & who was punished even when they succeeded. such environments are destructive beyond words – often the highest achievers are prone to self-injury.
there are neuropsychological considerations also. most bluelighters recognise the importance of serotonin; the Tuesday blues make that painfully obvious. when serotonin levels are normal irritability can be expressed by shouting, aggression etc. but when they are low, these responses can descend into self injury, suicide, or even attacks on others.
do cutters feel pain?
often not. 67% of participants in a 1986 survey reported feeling ‘no pain’ when cutting; the therapeutic effects & dopamine release are often more important than feeling anything. some people self-harm to feel alive, to feel anything, to feel numb, to ‘cut’ their pain away (catharsis), and sometimes to scar themselves. the lack of actual pain sometimes shows dissociation.
what can we do?
therapeutic responses to cutting are varied. often doctors and hospitals remain (unacceptably) scathing of cutters – they are handled roughly, only barely treated, or mocked. some have even reported wounds being stitched without anaesthetics (!!!) as some medical staff consider cutters less important or worthy patients as they have harmed themselves. it is important to recognise that self-harm is a serious condition, and that it requires attention NOT further disassociation or rejection.
psychotherapy, pharmacological responses (medicines) and interpersonal group behavioural therapy are suggested methods of treatment. hypnosis & relaxation techniques are also used; simple meditative efforts can help alleviate the need for physical injury.
perhaps the most influential & important method of ending self-harm is self-help. it can often be an arduous process, but perhaps the most concrete. there are many, many books & articles relating to techniques, both on and offline.
the best advice I have found is contained in what should be considered the online self-harm bible, secret shame . if you are a cutter, please please please take the time to look around this site as the information within is incredibly detailed & accurate – it is compiled by a cutter.
be safe, and be happy.
-seuss-
some further links:
http://www.vinland.org/scamp/institute/dsh.html - cutting page with links to SCAR, a zine for cutters.
http://www.webring.org/cgi-bin/webring?ring=bus;list - a webring mostly US based.
www.selfharm.com - self explanatory!
‘cutting’ is a loose term that refers to Deliberate Self-Harm Syndrome, or Repetitive Self-Harm Syndrome. many sufferers refer to themselves as cutters, or use SI for self-injury – e.g. ‘I SI once a month’. the methods, area & seriousness of the injuries can vary incredibly; most common are cuts to the arms, wrists, neck, upper torso, with genital mutilation also common. cutting with nails, broken glass, knives, razors, blades, needles, nails, scissors, ceramics – indeed anything that can pierce skin, often the more painful the better. SI can also take the form of swallowing batteries so the acid burns internal organs, swallowing glass, razor blades, needles, banging one’s head against objects or punching things repeatedly. pulling out hair, scratching or biting until blood is drawn, and interfering with wound healing are also very common behavioural patterns. cutting is a coping mechanism, often favoured by those who find it difficult to express their
emotions.
cutting can take the form of compulsive self harm, such as skin picking or hair pulling (note – often amphetamine psychosis or abuse can have similar effects) or impulsive self harm (when occasional self harm becomes repetitive).
it is important to stress that cutters are not usually mentally ill, nor are they suicidal – although they believe that death is coming soon. however, obviously any person experimenting with self harm is endangering themselves & possibly their lives.
it is estimated that 1.9million Americans are ‘cutters’; other estimates say 750 out of every 100,000 harm themselves. the media has a role to play in these numbers; while obviously music & film influences are just that, outside influences, acts like marilyn manson & slipknot often seem to actively support self-harm; there is a higher number of cutters amongst heavy, dark musical fan bases, but this is often more to do with the imagery & appeal of the music, rather than the music itself. similarly, movies have dealt with cutting in different guises & are influential in varying degrees.
one of the most defining images of self-injury came from the still missing Richey Edwards, of the manic street preachers. I have included a link since the image may be disturbing. richey
self injury is most prevalent amongst women between 13 – 30. however, it does strike people of all ages, races & social backgrounds. it is often an unconscious response to problems in the past; sufferers of incest or child abuse are much more likely to self harm. A study by Van der Kolk, Perry & Herman in 1991 cited neglect as the main cause of self-harm amongst children & adults. more of their work can be found here. it is important to recognise that cutting is a coping mechanism, and an outlet. if this is removed from someone’s life they may become suicidal or psychotic.
recognising true self-injury is important for onlookers. sexual pleasure, body art, religious ritual & peer pressure (i.e. fitting in with a cutting crowd) are not true indications. I have scars on my arms, but am not a cutter; rather it was teenage experimentation.
what causes cutting?
there are many, many different possible causatives. physical & emotional abuse of children, sexually & otherwise, neglect, a difficult or disrupted upbringing and extreme past traumas are the most common. however, surprisingly, there are also plenty of contraindicative cases that show that often self-harmers did not suffer from childhood abuse. the single most prevalent precursor to self-injury is what is called ‘invalidation’ or growing up in an invalidation environment. Linehan has described
an invalidating environment as such:
this is a surprisingly common environment, albeit often less extreme. everyone knows the perfect student who’s mother or father pushed them beyond belief, who was never good enough & who was punished even when they succeeded. such environments are destructive beyond words – often the highest achievers are prone to self-injury.
there are neuropsychological considerations also. most bluelighters recognise the importance of serotonin; the Tuesday blues make that painfully obvious. when serotonin levels are normal irritability can be expressed by shouting, aggression etc. but when they are low, these responses can descend into self injury, suicide, or even attacks on others.
do cutters feel pain?
often not. 67% of participants in a 1986 survey reported feeling ‘no pain’ when cutting; the therapeutic effects & dopamine release are often more important than feeling anything. some people self-harm to feel alive, to feel anything, to feel numb, to ‘cut’ their pain away (catharsis), and sometimes to scar themselves. the lack of actual pain sometimes shows dissociation.
what can we do?
therapeutic responses to cutting are varied. often doctors and hospitals remain (unacceptably) scathing of cutters – they are handled roughly, only barely treated, or mocked. some have even reported wounds being stitched without anaesthetics (!!!) as some medical staff consider cutters less important or worthy patients as they have harmed themselves. it is important to recognise that self-harm is a serious condition, and that it requires attention NOT further disassociation or rejection.
psychotherapy, pharmacological responses (medicines) and interpersonal group behavioural therapy are suggested methods of treatment. hypnosis & relaxation techniques are also used; simple meditative efforts can help alleviate the need for physical injury.
perhaps the most influential & important method of ending self-harm is self-help. it can often be an arduous process, but perhaps the most concrete. there are many, many books & articles relating to techniques, both on and offline.
the best advice I have found is contained in what should be considered the online self-harm bible, secret shame . if you are a cutter, please please please take the time to look around this site as the information within is incredibly detailed & accurate – it is compiled by a cutter.
be safe, and be happy.
-seuss-
some further links:
http://www.vinland.org/scamp/institute/dsh.html - cutting page with links to SCAR, a zine for cutters.
http://www.webring.org/cgi-bin/webring?ring=bus;list - a webring mostly US based.
www.selfharm.com - self explanatory!
Last edited:
- admittedly I was being a bit of an asshole....