Teenage Self-Injury - Page 2 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

SeeGeeWhy · 07-20-2007, 01:46 PM

I was never into self mutilation, but when I was younger I had my tounge pierced. One of the reasons I had was to see if I could do it - if I could handle the pain, what the pain was like, etc.

I imagine it is part of a curiosity with yourself and is normal, but obviously if it goes too far you can be seriously injured.

JiriHrdina · 07-20-2007, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by llama64

I've heard cutting as a method of gaining attention for children who lack a high level of self esteam. Either as a form of rebellion, or as a real way to get attention to their problems.

Either way, it's disturbing to think that nearly half of US children preform this act on themselves.

The self-esteem part is likely true but in a lot of cases its not an attention-seeking behaviour, but rather a source of embarassment for the person doing it.

Its a hard thing to understand but for many the cutting (or what not) is all about the release they feel when they do it. I don't really get what that is all about though.

Dan02 · 07-20-2007, 01:58 PM

thats one broad definition of self mutiliation. pulling out hair? Had a ingrown hair last week so i sliced it open it and pulled it out, now suddenly i am a self mutiliator. Seems like they're trying to make it out like 46% of teenagers cut themselves, which is not even close.

CMPunk · 07-20-2007, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

The self-esteem part is likely true but in a lot of cases its not an attention-seeking behaviour, but rather a source of embarassment for the person doing it.

Its a hard thing to understand but for many the cutting (or what not) is all about the release they feel when they do it. I don't really get what that is all about though.

Exactly...hell when people ask about my scars, I don't want to talk about it. Hell my parents don't even know. This is the first time I've openly admitted to anyone other then the odd Gf that I do this

RedHot25 · 07-20-2007, 02:09 PM

Well said, Blaster.

Hack&Lube · 07-20-2007, 02:35 PM

Pain keeps your alert and awake mentally...and it also releases a rush of adrenaline, endorphins, etc. I have never cut myself but you can do other healthy things to cause pain to deal with stress or emotional unhappiness...

Like running to the point where it hurts or working out like crazy. Isn't the pain you feel the next day a great feeling? Or heck, if you want a quick fix, just get a mouthful of mouthwash and don't spit it out for 2 minutes. Fights the evil gingavitis and also completely takes your mind off whatever is bugging you at the moment.

SaskaBushFire · 07-20-2007, 02:45 PM

Everytime I read a story about some emo kid cutting themself I laugh.

You want attention, do something positive.

jammies · 07-20-2007, 02:46 PM

Sometimes pain is better than feeling nothing at all.

I used to put safety pins thru my skin when I was a teenager, and wear 7 or 8 of them up my forearm, and the pain was a way of focusing, almost like a meditation as you put each one thru and concentrate on how it feels. After a while though, I started creeping myself out and forced myself to stop. Now I look back and wonder what the hell the gov't put in my shreddies to make me so f'd up.

I also remember one girl, just after high school, that I went out with and who had dozens and dozens of cuts on her belly; all the way from old and almost completely faded to raw looking ones with beads of dried blood down the seam. I just didn't know what to say and kept my mouth shut, but I could never shake that image out of my head and we didn't go anywhere far after that.

redforever · 07-20-2007, 02:48 PM

We took in our niece for two years, while she finished the last 2 years of her highschool. Things had got so bad between her and her mom (my sister), that my niece had voluntarily made herself a ward of the court and went into foster care. Her Mom and Dad were divorced, living with the Dad was totally out of the question (alcoholic etc)

My niece cut herself. She was also bi polar and of course, will be so for the rest of her life. By the time we took her in, she was basically a success story just waiting to happen. Her bipolar problem had been noticed by a teacher in an alternative school, she had been referred to a doctor who hospitalized her and found out what her chemical imbalance was, she had received the counselling she needed, she wanted a better life and she made it happen.

I asked her about the cutting, which she had quit by the time she came to live with us. This is what she told me.

It is not a means to get attention. Instead it is a cry for help, you feel so bad about your life, what you have done, what has happened to you, that you try to punish yourself, because deep down you think you are a bad person, that if you were not bad, all these things would not happen to you.

Now if all cut themselves because of these reasons, I do not know, but that was what my niece relayed to me.

JiriHrdina · 07-20-2007, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaskaBushFire

Everytime I read a story about some emo kid cutting themself I laugh.

You want attention, do something positive.

As has been noted numerous times, very rarely is it about attention. I'm sure it's great though to laugh at someone with emotional problems. Top notch.

lifer · 07-20-2007, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaskaBushFire

Everytime I read a story about some emo kid cutting themself I laugh.

.

I wish that I was such a great person that I could laugh at other people's problems.
Safe to assume you enjoy laughing at poor people and hungry kids too?

Blaster86 · 07-20-2007, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaskaBushFire

Everytime I read a story about some emo kid cutting themself I laugh.

You want attention, do something positive.

Ban me I don't care

but

You're a ****ing idiot.

Flashpoint · 07-20-2007, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blaster86

Ban me I don't care

but

You're a ****ing idiot.

Seconded.

Burninator · 07-20-2007, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaskaBushFire

Everytime I read a story about some emo kid cutting themself I laugh.

You want attention, do something positive.

Poor taste. Especially when a bunch of people in this thread are telling very personal stories about this.

I am really surprised by how many people have gone (possibly going) through this. I must have been naive to it because I haven't known anyone, or been aware of anyone, that has done it.

SaskaBushFire · 07-20-2007, 04:22 PM

Alright I can respect that people have this as a condition if people can respect my opinion. We are both entittled to have these things, correct?

This isn't a jab at the moderating, it is a question to the responses received.

JiriHrdina · 07-20-2007, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaskaBushFire

Alright I can respect that people have this as a condition if people can respect my opinion. We are both entittled to have these things, correct?

This isn't a jab at the moderating, it is a question to the responses received.

It's not an issue of having an opinion. It's an issue of ignorance.

SaskaBushFire · 07-20-2007, 04:26 PM

Ignorance, like cutting yourself for attention and putting those around you through hell because of it?

Burninator · 07-20-2007, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaskaBushFire

Ignorance, like cutting yourself for attention and putting those around you through hell because of it?

Ignorance in calling everyone who cuts themselves an "emo".

Ignorance in saying they do it for attention.

JiriHrdina · 07-20-2007, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaskaBushFire

Ignorance, like cutting yourself for attention and putting those around you through hell because of it?

No. Ignorance like your first post and now this one.

redforever · 07-20-2007, 04:32 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by SaskaBushFire

Alright I can respect that people have this as a condition if people can respect my opinion. We are both entittled to have these things, correct?

This isn't a jab at the moderating, it is a question to the responses received.

Quote:

It's not an issue of having an opinion. It's an issue of ignorance

.

And respect. We can all have our opinions, but we should be careful that when we voice our opinions that we respect the opinions of others as well as respect their feelings. It is bad enough to go through an experience like this or be witness to someone going through this type of experience. The last thing those people need is for someone to say, get a life, do something positive. Most people would if they could, but when they cant and someone basically says, grow up, get over it, it only compounds the situation. Many things come with maturity, but compassion and respect for our fellow man, especially when they are down, should be learned at a very young age.