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reasons someone self-injures.

A lot of the time cutters do not have any other coping skills to deal with life. This is another reason it can be such a difficult habit to break. I know this to be true for me at least. Cutting is the way I have dealt with my emotions for over half my life; it is much easier to continue relying on it than learning something new. This can make it very hard on therapists or counselors with patients who cut. The therapist can be doing everything right and think their patient is making progress yet they still fall back on the cutting. It should also be recognized that cutting is almost a cry for help. Yes, cutters hide their marks and lie about where they come from when caught. Yes, we will deny everything even when the proof is staring us in the face. Yes, we can turn our back on help and continue our destructive behavior. But ultimately, most cutters know it's unhealthy and something they should stop, we just don't know how.

In closing, please do not take this article as my endorsing or suggesting that people turn to self-injury. In fact I think it's a highly destructive and addictive behavior that should be addressed and hopefully overcome. If you are a cutter, I would urge you to seek some help. Whether that help is a family member, friend, priest, or therapist. You do deserve the help; you do deserve the love even though you probably don't think you do. Overcoming self-injury is not an easy road, but it can be done. For the rest of you, all we need is your understanding. We don't expect you to condone the behavior or agree with it, by all means disagree, but at least try to be non-judgmental. It is my hope that this article will shed some light on the complex issue of cutting and the many possible reasons behind it. Self-injury doesn't have to be the end of the road; where there is light there is hope, so flip on the light switch.

Learn more about this author, Stefani Andrews.
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