Self Mutilation?

[sr71blackbird]

I go to night school, and this girl (maybe early 20's) just started in the class, and she is kind of a goth chick; the all black clothing and the heavy black eye and lip makeup, and she has a semicircular dotted line tattoo under one of her eyes. But what I notice most is her arms are all scarred up like this picture :

http://www.healthofchildren.com/images/gech_0001_0004_0_img0246.jpg

She would be pretty otherwise. Her arms are actually far worse than this picture. I do not understand why anyone would do this to themselves. What is the reason behind it? Is it to attract attention, or is it a sign of mental abnormality? Do you know anyone like this?

[IamPixie]

I think it's called scarification. It skeeves me out and I have no clue why anyone would do it. to each their own.

[JPMNICK]

pic not working

[Leticia]

We need a new picture! This one did not load.

I always though that people did it for attention.

I knew a guy (not friends anymore) who came over to my house once when I was 14. We were in my kitchen and I had realized that while we were talking he was trying to cut himself with a pocket knife! He was always a weirdo and trying to get a attention , my mom actually caught him and kicked him out of the house.

He was a fucking jerk.

[BMoses]

i agree with Mr B, a cutter is oddly hot

[walking joint]

you should probably cheat on your wife with her...actually don't be mean to your wife, just make out with her and be really good friends.

[Hottub]

That's enough, Joint!

[danner1515]

I think the general explanation for cutting is that it has something to do with wanting to transfer emotional pain into physical pain, which I guess some people see as being more manageable than handling emotions.

Cutters typically hide their scars though, so it sounds like this girl is maybe just looking for attention. Perhaps the next time you see her, you should point at them and deliver a witty zinger about it.

[Tallman388]

I think the general explanation for cutting is that it has something to do with wanting to transfer emotional pain into physical pain, which I guess some people see as being more manageable than handling emotions.

Cutters typically hide their scars though, so it sounds like this girl is maybe just looking for attention. Perhaps the next time you see her, you should point at them and deliver a witty zinger about it.

Someone who derives pleasure from cutting definitely hides it from the general public, while your average goth poseur will do it to show off and make people think they're in danger or two steps away from ending it all.
You should definitely make a point of calling this young lady out, maybe her daddy doesn't love her enough.

[nancy drew]

Someone who derives pleasure from cutting definitely hides it from the general public, while your average goth poseur will do it to show off and make people think they're in danger or two steps away from ending it all.
You should definitely make a point of calling this young lady out, maybe her daddy doesn't love her enough.

yeah, she's definitely just making a fashion statement. i almost want to say don't even give her the attention she's seeking...but then...it would be great to call her out and see if she freaks out or blames it on skippy.

[DarkHippie]

I used to carve into my skin with pins and such, or burn myself with matches. it just feels good.

[RoseBlood]

It has always been my belief/experience that self-harm/injury is an Anxiety Disorder. The "Self-Mutilation" as you described falls more under the Impulsive self-harm category as opposed to the Compulsive type. Within this you have episodic and repetitive self harm.

I tend to think the girl you saw falls into the episodic self harm category, as they tend to engage in such practices sporadically and don't see them selves as "self-injurers." I'm simplifying as there's probably some other psychological disorder at play here, besides the fact she's screaming for attention because as others have already said, "cutters" tend to try to hide their wounds. I'm generalizing, but most people who suffer from any of the, what I like to call "Control-Based" Disorders try to cover up their "signs and symptoms", especially if they are suffering to any high degree.

As is often the case with Anorexia and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders; self-injurers have come to rely on it. They may feel it's their only way to feel like they have some control over their lives. I know it makes no sense to those unfamiliar, but believe me, it doesn't make sense to the ones suffering either and if they could just stop on their own they would. It is very difficult for people who don't suffer from these disorders to truly understand the how's and why's. It's easy to dismiss them as freaks or weirdos. In regards to Anorexia, I'm not talking about the casual dieter, watching her weight. In regards to OCD, I'm not merely referring to little everyday repetitive quirks we all have and in regards to Self-Injurers I'm not referring to kids making a fashion statement or seeking attention. I believe in many cases people may be genetically predisposed but perhaps something happens in their lives that triggers them and some where along the way their wiring got messed up and they begin to rely on hurting themselves as a coping mechanism. Mind you, self harm is a very broad term that encompasses every thing from hair pulling and cutting to alcoholism, but in keeping on topic I'm mainly referring to people who cut, scratch, burn themselves. One common misperception that always irked me is that these are all goth like emo people. They are not. They can be anyone and you wouldn't know because they try to hide it. They present themselves as normal, perhaps shy, perhaps over achievers and rather then dealing with people and life in any "healthy" way they hurt themselves in reactions to stress. Some do it out of self-hate or guilt, others may do it to feel alive, or to punish themselves. I wish people didn't make light of it or make fun of it or mock it because for some it is a very real problem. I wish there was a way of seeing the warning signs and preventing it early on. Some say it's linked to childhood abuse and while every disorder can be linked to abuse I hope that's a wake up call.

[spoon]

Nice synopsis. Now off to work I go. Brevity from me is rare.

[Kris10]

edited: reply had nothing to do with topic

[buzzard]

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/a1958wil/burns3.jpg


I don't get it either,quite disturbing.

[IamPixie]

http://static.flickr.com/70/228017907_10b5dcd52f.jpg

this is scarification.

[Furtherman]

http://www.thatyouththing.com/evotions/images/handOverMouth.jpg

That's sick.

[IamPixie]

http://www.thatyouththing.com/evotions/images/handOverMouth.jpg

That's sick.

the design is beautiful. But why not just get a tattoo?

[drusilla]

watch secretary with james spader & maggie gylenenahaljadfkasdfjhal.

its one of my all time favorites. she plays a cutter in the movie & they explain it pretty well. (pretty close to what danner1515 said.)

i dated a cutter in high school & he was really quiet about it. he'd really only do it after fighting with his father.