I think a lot of people judge a persons story on age – and I can absolutely see why.
I’m 16, and have been depressed like most, and taken it out on myself, I think before I knew what ‘self harm’ was. Not really bad. But as soon as my life started getting stressful, and more I ever thought I’d have to deal with (my parents split up at 13) just scratching at my arm or leg was a nice pain, and  a genuine distraction. What I’m trying to say from this is that young people these days cut because they think that’s what you need to do when you’re sad.
Why is it becoming meaning-less?
I see Facebook/Tumblr with ‘depressed’ people (some are, majority narcissistic) saying they cut, but do they because they originally realized it helped? Or because they’ve seen that’s what people do when you’re sad, and it gets you attention.
ugh. If you have any thoughts I would love to hear them.
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Many of my classmates will announce it at the top of their lungs – Attention. But you do get those quiet few who do find comfort in it but want to keep it to themselves – I don’t think they want help or even company. I myself have never cut – I’ve never found solace in physical pain. But the people I’ve known who have – would NEVER post it publicly if it actually made them feel better.
I don’t know if this is indicative of all cutters – but just of the ones I’m acquainted with.
It’s also become VERY common that every moment of a social net-workers life is essentially recorded onto their wall or page…etc. So it might just be the generation of technology that has made this personal problem ( that of cutting) acceptable to publicly declare.
I hope this helps and ism sorry that you feel the need to self-harm.
I understand what you mean, I was never depressed but I self-harm a lot. I think the problem is partly cultural, since there was that whole, “emo” thing a few years ago. Also, a lot of people have seen that being “depressed” gets you attention, and when they’ve run the “depressed attention tap” dry, they make a beeline for cutting.
And just one thing I wanted to point out, some people aren’t cutting for the relief or distraction, but to genuinely hurt themselves. Well that’s how it is in my case at least, but I guess you’re talking more about people who cut because they just thought they were “supposed to” since they’re “depressed”
And just a story I wanted to share that sort of shows what you mean.
If you read my post, I did bully people a little while ago, which I really regret, but one girl who I hurt was crying in the bathroom. Completely by coincidence I walked into the bathroom and saw her trying to cut her arm with a pair of scissors. I stopped her, and asked her why she would do that, and she replied with a mostly calm voice saying “Because I’m depressed.”
I’ve seen the same, and don’t know how they thing announcing it is something to be proud of.
I don’t think that acceptability should be only for those kind of people. it’s so unfair that people are being pushed behind for people like this. And people say ‘they’re an inspiration’. Thanks.
@ISmiled
If you don’t mind me asking – why do you genuinely want to hurt yourself if not for relief or distraction?
To pay for something you’ve done?
@mumblebumblebee I hate the people that do it for attention. It just tarnishes the rest of us with the same brush and makes people think others do it for attention too. I know someone that is saying they’re suicidal and they’re going to do it, but they aren’t, I can tell, and killing yourself isn’t so much a mindset you can instantly go into, it takes time, and that person has a good life and does everything else for attention so I know it’s lies. Anyone who was “emo” was doing it for attention in my experience, none of them were depressed and rejected me when I had suicidal feelings. I’ve knew people who tried to cut for attention and one girl tried to harm using plastic scissors in class once, whereas I’d expect someone depressed not to do that in public, (and not with harmless plastic scissors).
@noonoo12
I’m fine with it. And yes, it’s definitely to pay for something I did. For about 6 or 7 years I bullied others, and hurt people for little or no reason. After looking into it a bit I felt really guilty, and it’s been hard for me to accept what I’ve done, so in a way, it’s a punishment.
Also I just thought of this, but the word “depressed” has lost a lot of it’s definition too, I’m mostly just talking about the people who go “Oh, I’m sooo depressed!!” because they didn’t get to see their favourite band live or something.
@ISmiled
Don’t take this the wrong way – but if you’ve seen the damage done and are repenting,
Isn’t that enough?
I think the memory of it is punishment enough.
And you’re right – the word has long lost all significant meaning.
@VacatedHappiness I could not agree more. Anxiety builds up to ask people for help in real life. But over the internet my friends would brush it past them ‘like every teenager’. Thanks.