Posted by orchid on October 7, 2005, at 14:26:45
In reply to A Question and a big ***trigger***, posted by terrics on October 7, 2005, at 12:49:16
Hi Terrics,
One thing I know is most of the times, cutting is either a way to exert some control or an outlet to pain, or a way of self punishment.
I haven't really cut myself - I tried it once a long time ago - but that was because I was hurting too much because of my husband's behavior and I wanted him to understand how much it hurt me. But even that, I would say, was only to threaten him, and not really to cut myself.
But from what you have said, it seems to me, that you are viewing cutting as a form of "clearing yourself out". You have said that cutting gives you relief and a clean feeling. I think you seek to express your mental pain in some form of physical pain. And that gives your mental suffering an outlet for some time and clears your mind. It also probably gives you a feeling, that you have some control over something atleast in your life.
I would suggest try some alternatives to cutting to express your mental pain. As I said to Daisy a while back, buy a punching bag and punch it so that your hands hurt a little and you feel somepain in your hands. That will most likely serve as a good substitute and will serve as an outlet for your pain.
If you think you are cutting to exert some control over something - it is a little harder to do. Usually it is hard to do something positive.. but maybe buying play dough and building somethign with it, and then smashing it might help. Or buy building blocks, build something and then destroy it.
I actually don't know if these are prescribed methods or if it would help, but I think it might help. You can perhaps ask your therapist on what other ways you can take out your pain without causing real damage to anything.
poster:orchid
thread:564066
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20051001/msgs/564081.html