To All Who Cut Or Thinking Of Doing So...

Don't do it.

I posted something similar in the "Personal Stuff" section in the message board earlier. I suddenly came up with a really good analysis of cutting when I thought about it. I hate to see people hurt themselves when there's so many other options, there's no reason to seek self-harm to solve your problems.

Again, I'm writing this SOLELY to pose as an example. I don't like to parade these type of things around, trust me. Over the past summer, I was going through a crappy time and I didn't know what else I could do to feel better. I felt like shit. Pessimism personified. So, on three different occasions, I turned to cutting, thinking it would make me feel better like so many other people claim.

And I was wrong. REALLY wrong. Cutting serves as a distraction for the conscience, to focus on the pain while all the chaos and negative emotions are momentarily dispelled. That's why it can turn into an addiction, because it "takes away the pain." Meanwhile, all those problems and confusion intensifies in your subconscious. Some people are more or less aware of it, and some aren't at all, but there is a mental debate going on in your subconscious while cutting or even thinking about it. Humans have a built-in desire to do good, so your Inner Mind, I guess, would prefer to find other options as a way out. And so, that creates more tension within your mind, and it essentially makes you feel worse and you can't even realize why, blinded by your addiction with the distraction that cutting serves. That's my experience, anyways.

Translation: While you think you feel better on the outside while cutting, deep down it only confuses you more and your problems are pushed back into the back of your mind, only to resurface later, worse than before.

Plus, you start to act different. The first time I did, the next day I had scars all over my forearm. My family and friends noticed, and I lied, saying my cat scratched me. I was nervous all the time about it, and deep down, I felt really guilty that I had to reduce to such a level to "feel better." Eventually, I dumped it because I see it as a sign of weakness, hurting yourself to feel better due to a lack of willpower to cope.

Quitting the addiction: you can be in therapy for months, talk to your friends and family, hear other talk about their experiences with it, and still not feel different about it. That's the problem with some people and therapy - he or she tells you what's wrong and people expect to feel better afterwards.

The answer, I'm telling you, it's MENTALITY. What leads to cutting? A bad self-image. Someone who has a bad self-image would be a pessimist, always thinking bad about yourself and your life, right? So, the cure would be OPTIMISM. Quite simple, really. Sure, then you'll say, "But there's nothing to be happy about, I can't just make myself feel happy." Yes, you can! If I could, you can too.

Matt Bellamy once said something about seeing his band on a scale, that they're awesome in comparison to some bands, but less awesome when compared with others. That's how I see life. Sure, at some times, things can sound like they suck, but take things into perspective. There's people my age who are so stuck in poverty, they're simply trying to SURVIVE, my life couldn't even be compared to that. Imagine what people like that have to go through. See life as a gift, and be grateful for what you HAVE. And I believe in second chances. If you have the willpower, then you can change. As I said, it's all in the mentality.