Cutting- The "New Age Anorexia"

[olpluvr]

Mutilation, self-inflicted wounds, cutting, parasuicide. We hear about teenagers who cut parts of their body due to emotional distress, but there remains the true question: are these teenagers cutting to gain attention from family others, to fit in with other teenagers who are also doing it, or is it being done in secret to rid of emotional pain?

Comments

[ferret_angels]

Ok this is a GREAT topic, I can see a whole bunch of arguments for this one!!

Alright, this is what I think. I believe that burning/cutting/picking and all other related ways to self-mutilate all stem from mental illness. A person who has to do those things is either doing them for attention that they are lacking and are looking for, or because they have NO coping skills with stressors in their lives and have found this alternative to do the job. There are other scenarios of course, like medical reasons to a person scratching/itching/picking, like skin disorders. To me, it doesn't make sense otherwise.

Yes, we all do have some form of body-mutilating tendancies. For example, I love when I find a facial cleanser that burns my face, that feeling signifies proper cleaning to me. I know that I shouldn't use something that strong if it makes me feel that way, but I do it anyway. But I DO NOT agree that tattoos and piercings are forms of mutilation. They are works of art, forms of expression that to the person who gets them done, look "cool" or "beautiful". Besides, one pays an artist to get them done, and they are legal. There is NOTHING beautiful about a slashed wrist. I mean sure, there are dangers in tattooing and piercing, that's why you do research into the places you are getting them done in. As I'm writing, I'M actually thinking about what I just said...I just opened my eyes up to the fact that indeed tats/piercings CAN be mutilation...for example: a person pierces parts of their bodies by themselves, and that could cause infection, and paralysis if done in the wrong spot the wrong way. The defining factor between it being mutilating or body art is the risk factor, and why the person is doing it. Anything a person chooses to do that is life-threatening is STUPID.

Life is very short, and very valuable. When struck with tragedy, or just plain old stress, they should know that mutilation is NOT a healthy answer, and should just not do it. Don't be stupid and think of only yourself, once you're gone, think of what your family will go through. Anyone who knows a person who's endangering their life by doing any of this topics STUPID coping mechanisms should be a friend and stop them using any means possible. If not, you're not a good friend at all.

Is it just me, or is it becoming the "social norm" to harm oneself?! I go on different websites to look for MSN pics, and I find a SHITLOAD of icons that are promoting slicing/dicing/etc. What is wrong with this picture?!!

All in all, just remember, one wrong slash of the wrist and you're DEAD!!

Chrissy

Response: ferret_angels

[olpluvr]

I believe there are 2 different types of "mutilators", if you will. As you have mentioned above, there are those who really do have a problem or fixation with self-harm and others who are doing it just because. The only reason I can come up with for the second type of person affiliated with self-injury is that he/she feels alone and has no other way to get attention.

But for those people, they may realize that it is a great way to get rid of stress- or at least forget it for the time being. For those who are addicted to it, there must be a trigger to become addicted in the first place so even if they are "crying wolf" it should be taken seriously so it doesn't become an action that they cannot help.

And I can assure you that all "know that mutilation is NOT a healthy answer, and should just not do it" but what about those who honestly cannot help tearing flesh from their bodies and/or picking up scissors and slicing their wrists? That guilt trip just makes them feel more indifferent and they keep asking "WHY, WHY CAN'T I STOP?!?!?!" It's hard to comprehend why someone can't stop these tendencies when it seems as easy as "just stop it" or "just don't do it", but I do not have the answer as to why an addict can't stop. When there's an addiction to anything, it becomes equivalent to asking someone without a degrading fixation to stop breathing. Of course there are ways to treat all addictions but it's hard work that can become discouraging.

To address your last concern about people cutting and how it can't be for beauty, that is also false. If you visit http://www.bmezine.com/ you will see many forms of controversial body art, such as piercings on the back in a visual of a corset, scarification, etc.

Re: Response: ferret_angels

[ferret_angels]

What I am trying to understand is the whole aspect of one slicing themselves to alleviate stress. Even though I definitely don't promote smoking/drug use/alcoholism in any way, I can understand why a person would use those as crutches when stressed out. All of those things have an addictive ingredient that hooks the user, and are proven to provide relaxation. I just cannot understand how physically harming oneself would help in any way. One could say it's "addictive" but there isn't any "ingredient".

I also agree that a "cutter" should be taken seriously and provided with proper help. In all honestly though, most cutters DON'T even want to kill themselves. Most suicidal people don't want people to know of their plans, and keep them completely hidden. The only tell-tale sign is deep depression. I think that if a cutter "commits suicide", it's usually accidental, them getting carried away with cutting and hitting a major artery.

I still don't believe that self-mutilation is beautiful. A lot of people who get "corsets" and put scars on their bodies as "beauty" do it for attention. I mean, a person with their ears stretched all out of wack with a huge circular "thing" is screaming, "LOOK AT ME". I don't even want to get into the whole corset issue...yuck!!