Well, unfortunately to answer 1 of your questions, yes some people do use SI for attention seeking. I think mainly the teenage group, they see it as a type of "cool" way to get mom and dad to pay some attention to them. I think they also think it might impress their friends some.

Unfortunately for those of us who cut or harm ourselves as a coping tool to deal with pain, fear, anger, stress, etc. it does make it seem like a joke in society's eyes and if not a joke then it's some sick disgusting thing that only a psycho insane person would do.

A "normie" will never understand why a cutter cuts, they can't, they don't have that need or drive inside of them that pushes them to do what we do, so that we can survive the pain and hurt and fear and crap that is our life from day to day. We learned a way to cope with our crap, it's not a good way, but it is a very addicting way and it's a very hard thing to stop doing once you get hooked into it. And a normie will never understand that, it can't be explained to them, you can't talk it into them...they won't get it.

If you've survived your period of cutting and you've come through the other side for one, that's awesome, you should be so proud of yourself, that is just so freaking awesome. Next, quit trying to hide it so hard, those scars are a badge of courage that show you won the fight, the hardest fight you've ever fought. You don't have to explain anything to anyone, it's nobodies business but yours. And if someone is actually rude or stupid enough to ask, all you have to do is say, "It's none of your business." You don't owe anyone an explanation for your personal fight. I won't lie it's hard at first, but it gets easier, and you get used to "not hiding", the acceptance comes with time. Those scars are a part of you, they represent a part of who you were, and how far you've come and who you are now. You don't have to hide that, and you sure as hell don't have to explain to some curious ass who thinks they have a right to know your personal business.

I'm generally around if you ever need or want to talk. Your a strong girl you've made it through the hard part....you'll get through this part to. Don't worry about what society thinks, they will always have some whackjob half ass opinion.....who cares. You know the truth and that's what matters, you know how far you've come and you know what you've survived. You're Awesome.

Kat

Hi Katlyn40, Please do not take this the wrong way, but I am a teenager who struggles with self injury and anorexia. I really resent the comment you made above about teenagers who cut because it's 'cool' or to impress their friends. I have known ALOT of teens who cut and know absolutely none who fit that bill. I also do not know any teens who would be impressed by that. I'm really not trying to be rude, I just feel very hurt and offended by that comment. Just because we're teens doesn't make our issues stupid or shallow.

Ghostgirl,

I take no offense at your reply and I did not reply that way to be rude. My reply was in answer to this question, "or are there really people who use SI as an attention seeking thing...is this a real idea?" from the original poster.

When you read my post you'll notice I used the word "some". I've been a self injurer for 31 years....a very long time. I'm a cutter. For many years I've worked with others in mentor programs to try and deter young people from turning to this incredibly disastrous, life shattering and addicting way to deal with the crap that life hands out and I have come across teenagers that use it as a way to get attention. I"m not saying in any way that all teens who cut or injure themselves only do it for that reason. If you re-read my post you won't find that statement or anything that even sounds like that in it. But it does happen. Kids hurt and get hurt by parents who are too busy, wrapped up in themselves, stupid to notice whats going on and they will do drastic things at times to get those parents to notice. I"m sorry that I hurt your feelings, it was not the intent. Honestly I know why cutters cut, why self injurers hurt themselves, like I said it's been my coping mechanism of choice for many, many years, born out of a 12 yr old girl trying to figure out how to handle her father molesting her since she was 8....

I know teens have issues, very serious, painful, hurting, life altering issues....and I would never consider them shallow or stupid...that wasn't the point or the context of the conversation in that post.

Unfortunately though as with all "bad things" there are those who use them as a way to get attention, that will never change...and statistically younger people will do this moreso than adults because they are more desperate to get whatever they need noticed, to be noticed...and they just don't have the maturity or experience to work the problem a different way at times.

So, once again I'm sorry you were offended, it wasn't the intent, the post was meant in a different context than you took it. I wish you well and be safe.

Kat

"Attention Seeking", I am so tired of hearing that SI is about seeking attention.

I agree when I first starting cutting I did everything I knew to hide the scars. I knew that people would not understand, I started cutting 27 years ago and I lived in fear that someone would find out. Now that I'm older my battle seems to be with people who always want to imply that the reason I chose to SI was for attention.

I have been SI free for a couple years now but my scars remain. I see them as my, "battle scars". They remind me of a time and a place I never thought I could never be free from. I'm not deceived I understand that, there but for the grace of God go I, again.

As the media began to uncover the "SI secret" I too noticed an increase in the population of younger SI'ers. No doubt the increase came about for many different reasons. However, with that increase came a greater speculation as to why and as so many of us do when we dont understand something, others looking into the SI world began to give explanations that were more palatable to them: attention seeking, weirdo, psycho, disturbed to mention a few.

They dont get it because it scars them. They cant imagine doing this to themselves and it scares them to know someone they know not to mention someone they love is participating in this behavior. They dont understand that for many of us its the only reason why were still here.

I use to say that SI was my best friend and my warden. It was my best friend because it knew all my secrets, my warden because it wouldnt let me go. Now I know its possible to know SI as an acquaintance.

Well we can't do any thing about how the media or society regards the way people deal with their problems....they are always going to have some half-assed, self prophesized reasoning for them.

But fortunately the medical community stood up and took notice and Self Injurious Behavior is a recognized and noted Mental Disorder. So people can go and get treatment and help for their problem. Many SI'ers don't even know it but there are meds available that help curb the cravings, because they are too scared to go to a Pdoc (psychiatrist) or Tdoc (psychologist) for help, they think they'll automatically be "locked up". Which of course we all know, is not the way it works.

So if your a Self Injurer and you don't know that there's help out there for you and your not seeking it out because your scared of psychiatric incarceration, please know that you can go and get help for this disease.

Take care and be safe to you all,