Dumb question but what are some reasons to not cut? I need motivation.
Sorry I know theres many reasons not too but I just don't know anymore..
First I don't have that good of a reason to cut besides I've lost both of my best friends, one to my exboyfriend, but it caused me to be somewhat depressed and right now I'm really close to losing my last friend! I can't handle that. I cut to cause myself pain instead of having others cause it. I promised My stepdad and my two friends I have left that I'd stop and I did.. Now only for a couple days but thats better than nothing.. But the urges are just so bad, I can't handle it and I have nobody to talk to so I need reasons not to cut!! I know I'll feel guilty after I do it but still. I'm 15 and have only been cutting for a couple months but I think I'm addicted, can I be already? I cut my thighs so nobody will see but I'm in soccer and basketball so eventually someones going to see, right?
Help please!!!
heyyy Fitz, sorry to hear about your situation!
I started cutting when I was 14/15 too and it went on for years before anyone found out.
I know how hard it is to stop....the first few months for me were awful...but I've managed to make it 3 years now! there are loads of things you can do....I made a distractions box (full of craft stuff and games etc) for when I felt low...made a journal of feelings as a release and of course posted on ryl which helped a lot!!
Even when it gets hard try keep strong!!!
Set yourself goals and reward yourself! (so for example....my first month free I bought myself a new t-shirt and then after 2, 4, 8 etc months I'd do something nice for myself! and it really helped)
And always keep in mind the end goal!! Being happy in your skin and with the people around you...not having to watch what you wear because you have to cover cuts/scars! I loved the first time I could wear shorts!!
Keep strong!
We believe in you and if you ever need to chat....my inbox is always open!!!
Take care
Alex
Sorry about all the problems you've been having :C Whether or not cutting is an addiction for you, it's a problem, and you should do your best to stop before the problem gets worse.
Like Alex said, stopping is difficult, especially in the first few months. It's definitely worth it in the long run though. After I had been cutting for a while, it started to have a huge negative impact on my thoughts because I had no way other than cutting to cope with bad feelings.
Here are some reasons that have helped me avoid cutting:
1. It keeps you depressed, because you never deal with what made you depressed in the first place.
2. It hurts the people around you
3. Even if a problem is permanent, your feelings on it will pass. By cutting, you don't allow the feelings to pass and they resurface.
4. You never need to cut, you just think you need to cut.
5. If the problem continues, it's only going to get worse, not better.
You should also figure what your personal reasons are not to cut. I've found that the reasons I have come up with for myself have been the most effective in keeping me motivated. Try sitting down and making a list of reasons why you want to stop :)
Also, is there any way you can get professional help? Having an adult who is trained in this sort of thing to give you advice helps a lot when things seem bleak or problems seem overwhelming.
Thank you Alex, that did help alot. Congrats on making it 3 years. I am goin to try to stop. I somewhat gave in last night, I lightly cut pathetic into my leg but it bled so I guess you'd have to consider it cutting not scratching by I still don't want to believe I gave in... Yah I will try all those things, idk bout the whole writing stuff down cause last time I did that my stepdad found them and read them and it was bad! But thank you so much it helped alot!!
Pukeandcandy, yes that's very true, it's a huge problem that's taken over my life when it shouldnt have.. Ya it will be extremely hard but I guess I'll just have to be ready for a fight. Yah that's reasons are great and true, I will come up with my own soon..
I could go see someone but idk if I'm ready to or if I want too... I don't like talking to people, especially about something like this. But maybe, I might be forced to soon, idk.
Thank you both very much,
Ashley
Everyone has their own personal reasons not to cut I think, and it's actually a good idea to sit down and have a long think about why you don't want to cut and the problems that it causes. Some of my reasons that I have are:
1. I don't want scars
2. It hurts other people
3. It makes me feel more guilty and a failure
3. It doesn't solve anything
4. It adds to my problems
5. Once I am over it I can help others with better empathy
6. I have better things to do with my time!
7. It makes me hate myself
8. I must tackle the problem rather than avoid it
9. I don't like being unable to weak skirts and shorts without black tights
10. Self-injury doesn't heal the pain, it only delays it
11. I am hurting enough as it is
12. I'd never want my friends to cut so stop being a hypocrite! :P
But yes, you do need to think about your own personal reason and the detrimental effects that it has on your life. Once you've thought of some reason write them down somewhere so that you can read over them and remind yourself why you don't want to do it.
Also, as has been said, it is best that you go and see someone about it. I know that it's difficult to talk about these things and that it's terrifying, but it will help you get through this.
All of the reasons people have listed are good, and I think they're right that you need to think of some of your own.
But let me just add a couple of reasons other than emotional:
1. The itching that occurs when the cuts start to heal. I hate the damn itching.
2. First aid in general. I never feel the need to do it, which means I get freaked out when my wounds start to get infected or don't heal quickly. It's just not worth it.
I do not want to know myself. I do not want to be myself. I know better, so I will strive to be better.
I'm going to list some reasons why I think it wouldn't be good to cut. Alot of these will be repeats of what others have already said, but it's still worth putting some special emphasis on them, as they're pretty important reasons. I hope this helps you out. :)
You'd Be Hurting The People You Love! And you wouldn't want them to hurt, would you? Of course you wouldn't, which just makes this reason all the more important. Whenever you hurt yourself, you're hurting your family, friends, etc. And if just the idea of them hurting isn't enough for you, think of it this way - you wouldn't want a member of your family to self-harm, would you? And wouldn't seeing them in pain hurt you?
Cutting Does't Really Make You Feel Better. It's true. While cutting provides temporary relief, it doesn't solve your problems. By cutting yourself, you are making your problems worse, and even adding more problems in your life (ex. hiding it from others, covering up cuts and scars, etc.). Instead of cutting to solve your problems, you should try to find other ways.
The thing with cutting, smoking, drinking etc is to get at the emotions causing the problems. Cutting and coping things wouldn't have the attraction if people weren't full of suppressed anger and guilt, anxiety etc. Struggling with the cutting is struggling with the symptom. You need to learn to not over-react and let people upset you out of your tree.
Aside from the physical harm, coping mechanisms keep a person from finding themselves. They never resolve the emotions , events and problems
that caused a person to fall from their center and get caught in their own emotional and psychological machinery. SI damages the body but it also damages the soul - the true self
Lyddie,
That is true I do need to think of some and write them down, I'll do that tonight. All your reasons I can relate too and are true for me too! Ya maybe Ill go see someone idk yet but thanks!
Shakespeares strumpet,
Your two reasons were so true, I hate the itching it drives me insane!! Now I have never had a cut get infected but I guess that's just a matter of time and so is the day that I go too far. Thanks for the help!
Twisted beauty,
Yes they are so true, I would never want to hurt my friends or family, that's why I hide them but I know they're going to find out if I start again! I would never want to see them cut, ever! I'd feel horrible and it's not like I'd be able to say anything to them about it, that'd be horrible. Ya it doesn't solve the problems, it just makes everything worse!! Everytime I do it I just hate myself more and feel more guilty! So it does make things worse but I still do it. Stupid me!! Thank you very much they're both true!
Isoverity,
Yes, when I do it it's because somebody has done something to make me mad or upset or I do something that makes me feel guilty! Yah I'm not getting any better when I do it, I may feel better for a little bit but it just makes things worse! Thanks for that!
