R a z o r T h i n
Self-Inflicted Violence (cutting) & Eating Disorders
Self-inflicted violence, also known as self-mutilation or cutting (though burning is also common), is a self-destructive coping skill that many people, unfortunately, use. It is estimated that 1 out of 200 young women use self-inflicted violence (SIV) as a way to deal with intense difficult feelings.
Although having an eating disorder does not mean someone also self-mutilates, it is common for people with eating disorders to also use this form of "coping". Please don't automatically link eating disorders and self-inflicted violenceÉ but be aware that it is common that people with eating disorders (especially with anorexia, as I have witnessed in my work) to cut themselves. My guess is that it is an easy jump, to use the body as a way to express feelings that seem too big (and too intense) to express verbally.
I am concerned about the increase of self-cutting in the young (mostly) female population. It again speaks to me as a cry for help. Clearly our nation's young women are not feeling good about themselves and are experiencing extreme degrees of self hate which easily leads to self-abuse. I feel VERY strongly that people MUST begin to pay attention to these messages.
I believe that if 1 out of 4 males has disordered eating, even if 1 out of 10 males did, and if 1 out of 200 males was cutting themselves that the medical and psychiatric community would be addressing the issue with a vengence. Now, I KNOW that males suffer from eating disorders and self-inflicted violence (as I have personally met and have had the honor to work with several of these brave souls), however, the curve is still slanted, at this point in time, towards females.
What is going on?! I understand anorexia, bulimia, compulsive eatingÉ and, unfortunately, self mutilation.
There was a reason I was engaged in every one of these behaviors and I know there is a reason for others to be doing the same. The reasons vary, but they are all based, basically, in hurt. In intense painful emotions that feel so overwhelming, one feels a desperate urgency to do something to make the feelings go away.
Starving, stuffing, purging, cutting, burningÉ all of these seem to temporarily make the awful overwhelming feelings go away. The problem is (besides that all of these behaviors can kill you) that these behaviors DO NOT actually make the pain go away. The relief is only TEMPORARY. If these behaviors "worked" then you would do them once, and be done with those terrible anxious feelings. Instead, you feel temporarily relieved and attempt to continue living your life, but then the feelings COME BACK and you find yourself turning to the self-destructive acts yet again. And then again and again and again and again. Until you collapse, bleed accidentally to death (which happens with self-cutters, by the way), have a medical crisis of some kind, or bravely seek help.
The only good news I have to offer is that there is help. People who have been working in the eating disorder field for a while (and there aren't many of us, so if you are in recovery please consider joining the helping professionals- we need you!) have most likely (actually, definitely, as far as I know) also seen self-inflicted violence (SIV, or self-mutilation, cutting, burning, etc.). And so we know how to treat this. We know this (SIV) is not a coping skill that works (in that it doesn't really resolve the emotional pain that fuels it). We know that what needs to happen is the pain your are being overwhelmed by needs to be addressed in a safe, supportive environment so that you can finally LET GO of the aches and move ahead with your beautiful life.
People cut themselves every day on this planet. They are not all young females. They are all in a terrible amount of emotional pain and use the physical pain to distract themselves and to "control" (the logic being, I'm the one cutting this wound, no one else is, therefore I'm in control) their hurting. A lot like the reasoning in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa and compulsive eating.
About this phenomenon of self-inflicted violence (SIV):
- It is common with cases of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) which means someone has experienced some kind of trauma and is attempting to cope with the aftermath, which can be so hard, but PTSD is treatable.
- It does NOT mean the person is crazy or severally mentally disturbed (same as with disordered eating) at all.
- It can be treated!! Seek a therapist, perhaps one who knows about eating disorders, chances are they will know something about SIV alsoÉ and be sure YOU like the therapist because it is your life, your healing, is very important and if you don't have a good feeling about the therapist you probably won't do the work necessary to help you enjoy this life more.
- It can be, but is not always, a sign of Borderline Personality Disorder which is also treatable.
- YOU ARE NOT ALONE... Other people have suffered from self-inflicted violenceÉ one of my heroines on this earth, the lead singer of the band Garbage, Shirley Manson, struggled with self-inflicted violence as recent as two years ago.
AND THERE ARE MORE CELEBRITIES WHO'VE SUFFERED:
Johnny Depp, Rosanne, Princess Diana, Christina Ricci
- It is common to become addicted to self-inflicted violence because when the body is injured it releases opiates into your system and this causes a temporary "high" that one can become addicted to much like drugs.
- DO NOT FEEL ASHAMED IF YOU DO ANY SELF-HARM because you are NOT ALONE and it is not your fault.
- There are many internet sites dedicated to this subject, I would recommend searching the "Bodies Under Siege" Webring (see the bottom of my connections page) for more information, including personal accounts of self harm.
- Tune into cable channel USA on Tuesday 5/30 for a t.v. movie called "Secret Cutting" on this subject, which is also being called by therapists the "new anorexia". If you missed the show, USA usually repeats it's programs so check the guide!
- One last thing, PLEASE don't give up. People understand what you are going through and can help youÉ keep searching and you will find them. It is worth everything.
As much love as I can send through cyberspace, Lisa
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But really anyone can find anything disturbing.
Trinity Copyright 2003 - this website is a creation of Lisa Arndt, M.A.
