Can cutting be an addiction?
14 Answers to "Can cutting be an addiction?"
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cutting is a way of making emotional pain seem real and letting the cuts heal is a way of dealing with emotional pain also anything than makes you feel better can become addicting smokers do not get addicted with the first cigaret but they do after time just because you are not dealing with fresh emotional pain does not mean you have dealt with older pain if this is your only release it makes sense it has become a habit
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Hell yes! Very addicting. Mmmm
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Not sure if anyone else commenting has done it but I did it for a good while before quitting 3 years ago.
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A compulsion , the release is what you like not the act it's self
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Hell yes very addictive i started cutting at 13 ill be 16 in june and i still cutt.... i cutter everyday now its just like using drugs but with a blade...... u need 2 try ur best 2 do others things when u have the urge.....
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Yes. It's a release and you can get addicted to how good it makes you feel
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Yes I used to do the same until I started losing feeling in my left arm from an injury that accidentally went too deep. It scared me straight and I've had to live with the aftermath but I'm not in the mood to publicly go into detail. My advice is if it's so minor it doesn't matter than don't go deeper stay where your at.
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Yeah, it releases something (endorphins?) in your brain, which actually does become addictive. You should talk to an adult you trust or a counselor/school counselor.
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On a neurological standpoint, anything can become an addiction, so I'ld have to say yes
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You should google the Butterfly Project.
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Is that the one where you draw a butterfly on your arm? Cos I Tried that and apparently had no problem killing them:((
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maybe you should try something else, then. maybe put the name of someone/something you care about on your arms instead.
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Yes, and so is the healing process:( I understand why people do it, its sad to hear.
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It is a compulsion, not an addiction. Big difference.
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What's the difference? Is one just liking what comes from doing it?
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An addiction is based on the bodies need for an external chemical substance -- stimulant or depressant -- which alters the persons emotions. ..... A compulsion is a poorly understood need for a person to preform a ritual, such as washing your hands every five minutes, walking around a building three times before you go in, or cutting yourself. Because compulsions are poorly understood and there isn't an external factor that can be removed or controlled, it is harder to treat.
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I dunno...never experienced that
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It IS an addiction
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Best Answer (Chosen by Voting):
Posted by annalea Mar 18th, 2013 at 11:34PM
Cutting can become an addiction, yes. It is not this way for everybody (as any addiction behavior), but your brain does respond to the action in the same way as other addictions.
The best advice I can give you is to find alternate methods of releasing your stress. Of course, therapy and in some cases medication will help (there are usually deep roots to why people resort to cutting/addictive behavior in general).
But, besides talking/therapy/meds - some practical advice that you can do (if you are not ready to talk) is find alternate methods. Focus on self-care, this includes personal hygiene, proper sleep, EXERCISE, eating right. I emphasize exercise because it releases so many good endorphins into your body, and physically exhausts you. I know that when I don't exercise my mind goes to crazy places.
What I do - when I feel the need to cut - is get on the treadmill and run until I feel like I am going to vomit (sometimes until I do), and then I take a hot shower and go to bed. By the time I am done, whatever was bothering so badly isn't on my mind, or I am too exhausted to think about it. I haven't cut in a very long time, and taking care of my body teaches me to respect my body which get's rid of the urge to destroy it by cutting.
Note: I don't recommend running until you are physically sick - but for me, it is better than the alternative if that is my only option.
Hope this helps. If you are serious about quitting and would like someone to talk to please PM me.
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