"Self-injury is a self-preservation technique for many cutters; the self-mutilation relieves anxiety and/or depersonalization symptoms which could lead to psychosis or suicide if not alleviated.

Self-Injury: A Search For Understanding ... For cutters, it is a strangely effective coping method for dealing with inner pain so overwhelming it must be brought to the surface (Strong 1998).

For many cutters, self-mutilation seems the only appropriate response to the state of the world and to how they're feeling about it and about themselves.

A guide to the causes, symptoms and treatment of Self-Harming behaviour. ... Self-harm usually happens when someone feels very emotional and upset, and can help them to feel more in control and less

Although Russ's theory explains why many self-cutters may continue the behavior, it fails to explain what triggers the behavior. Back to Table of Contents...

Apply first aid antibiotic cream and cover with a bandaid (note: lots of cutters don't use bandaids, but if the cut is bad and ... think of how many "suicides" might really be botched self-injuries.

Welcome to the Internet's most trusted self-help & psychology portal, developed by hundreds of volunteers as a labor ... It is important to acknowledge the messages sent by these scars and injuries.

People who "self-injure" are not usually suicidal. They do however, intentionally inflict injuries upon themselves, ... "Cutters" use self-harm to feel calm, "in control," or just to "feel

In places where people know that self-inflicted injuries are liable to lead to mistreatment and lengthy psychological evaluations, they are much less likely to seek medical attention for their...

In “False Accusations and Self Inflicted Injuries” Florida defense lawyer Ron Chapman tells the story of a case where his client’s wife accused him of cutting her wrists with box cutters.