Common Misconceptions

It is often difficult to understand the “why” behind someone cutting themselves. Due to the complexity of self-injury, many may think that the person cutting is acting upon suicidal tendencies. Suicide is not the end goal of cutting. Although they are closely related, they are very different in nature.

Suicide

Self-injury is not practiced by the individual with the intent to commit suicide or bring about sexual pleasure, but for tension/emotional relief. One important thing to note is that self-inflicting injuries, such as those practiced as part of spiritual rituals or body markings (tattooing), are usually not considered self-injury.

Each person has their own motivations and mix of self-injury and suicidal feelings. The difference between self-injury and suicide comes to a distinction in the reasoning behind the behavior. The person that practices “cutting” is trying to alleviate themselves from the internal emotional pain they are experiencing, while those that attempt “suicide” are trying to “end” all of their feelings.

Most researchers recognize that the self-injurer does not intend to die as a result of their cutting behavior. However, although self-injury behavior is not suicidal in intent, it can easily lead to suicidal thinking or even death when a self-harmer goes too far accidentally.

Other Misconceptions

Other misconceptions of cutting include thinking “they just want to get attention,” “they are crazy or have gone mad,” and “they are a danger to others.” Again, for those that seriously struggle with an addiction to cutting, this activity provides them with a means to cope with great internal pain and has little to do with attention seeking.

They are not a danger to others, since their actions of anger and hurt are inflicted upon themselves. And they are not going “crazy” or “mad.” They just don’t know or have not learned other ways to express their conflict. The most important thing you can do is help them ease their pain rather than trying to label their behavior.

Why People Turn to Cutting

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