Self injury stigmas

There is a lot of stigma around self injury. A common misconception is that we are trying to kill ourselves. That, in fact, couldn't be further from the truth. Cutting is a coping mechanism. We cut to release the emotional pain we are holding inside. Also, We do NOT cut to get attention.

So why do we hurt ourselves?

There are different reasons why we started self injuring. For me, I was in deep emotional pain and didn't know how to express it. I was also really mad at myself. I had a flood of emotions inside of me......anger, grief, sadness, loneliness.....The first time I cut, I felt a high like I had never experienced before. Stronger than the euphoria you get from running, stronger than the high you get from weed. I no longer felt any of those initial emotions anymore. No more sadness, no more pain.

I didn't think I'd cut again. But guess what happened the next night? And the next? And the next? Soon enough I was cutting every day at least once a day. I'd cut to release the pain i felt inside. I'd cut when I was angry.....mostly because I was mad at myself or at God. I'd cut because I would rather SEE the pain I was feeling than feel it. It made it seem more real. I'd cut when I was sad, anxious or depressed. I'd cut when I felt alone. I'd cut when to punish myself. It became such an addiction, I had a terrible time stopping....Just like with any addiction.

We are not crazy, we are just hurting.

Music2 (Karin)