Posted by Dinah on November 8, 2001, at 10:26:57
In reply to Cutting... Can anyone identify? What does it mean?, posted by kid_A on November 8, 2001, at 9:07:59
I have on occasion cut myself lightly, usually when I was agitated or anxious. I did it because it works. Caroline Kettlewell in her memoir Skin Game mentions the silence that cutting brings after the chaos of the previous feelings. They have done research on endorphins being released from self harm, but I'm not sure how it works.
I do have to say though, that while it is an effective coping mechanism in the short term, it is definitely not the best coping mechanism. I have tried very hard not to use it, and in fact it has been some time since I did. I find that talking about the feelings to a good therapist decreases the need to cut. There is an excellent web site about it at www.palace.net/~llama/psych/injury.html. I'm not sure if I typed that correctly, but you can find it doing a google search on Secret Shame.
poster:Dinah
thread:13645
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20011105/msgs/13657.html