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Navigate: FAQ Home Page > Emotional Issues > Cutting addiction
Posted on: 12/01/2005
Question
Can you be addicted to cutting in the same way you can be addicted to drugs? I've been cutting for a few years. I've been in therapy and on medications, but I still feel this intense pull to cut. It's like I can't stop myself because I want it so bad and I can't stop thinking about it. Is it a type of addiction?
Answer
Yes, cutting can be an addiction just like a drug. People cut themselves for many different reasons, such as relief from intense emotions, physically expressing emotional pain, self-punishment, re-enacting abuse, or sometimes even creating euphoric feelings. It is most often a way to establish a sense of control and it can become a method of coping that allows some people to feel temporarily better. Self-inflicted violence is a very short term solution and unfortunately can easily become a habit that is hard to break. If you are not still in therapy, it would be best to find someone to work with who can help you devise a behavior management plan to interrupt your need to cut yourself. Medication can be helpful, but it has to be the right one or combination of several. Many people also do better in a supportive therapy group where they can talk out their feelings with others who understand and can help them problem solve. If you can't stop cutting, it is critical to get help. Many others have found ways of distracting themselves and learning how to express their feelings in more positive ways that can lead to resolving what is causing the pain.