How to Stop Cutting (for Girls)

If you've been cutting yourself, you are NOT alone! Cutting is a serious and fairly unknown epidemic among teenage girls. Sometimes the stress of life gets to be too much, and cutting seems like a good release. Although it may seem harmless at first, cutting has serious physical, emotional, and social repercussions. Read on to find out how to stop.

Steps

1. Admit and accept. Tell yourself, "I need to stop cutting." Say it out loud if you need to. Say it as many times as you need to believe it.
   
2. Brainstorm ways to stop. Whenever you have the urge to cut, instead of going straight for the sharp object, identify WHY you're cutting. Once you've identified why you're about to hurt yourself, don't. Put down the scissors and go talk to someone you care about, be it your mom, dad, sibling, friend, etc. Talk about what happened, how it made you feel, and why it made you feel that way. Just let it all out.
   
3. Find alternatives to cutting that make you feel the same kind of relief. Go for a walk or a run. Talk to a friend. Listen to music. Write in a journal. Take a long bath or shower. Go shopping. Whatever you love to do, do it. I'm sure it'll make you feel a whole lot better than cutting.
   

Tips

• If you have a strong urge to cut, but you know you shouldn't, try putting a rubber band around your wrist and snapping it whenever you have the urge to cut. Don't try to hurt yourself of course, but it'll give you the same feeling without the same scar.
  
• Never underestimate therapy. Just sitting down and talking to someone who won't judge you can be a huge relief. You can get to the bottom of the real reason you're cutting, and even bring up underlying things you never even knew were bothering you. If your family can't afford therapy, try talking to your school guidance counselor or looking through the phone book for people who offer free psychological counseling. Most likely there will be a few listings for trained people who offer free help. Or you could even talk to your school counselor about free counselors in the area. Usually he/she will have a few contacts of people who offer free help.
  
• If you've tried therapy and you don't like it, or it doesn't work for you, that's totally fine. There are usually Teen Self-Help meetings that meet every week or so and talk about ways of overcoming problems, healthy alternatives to cutting, and how to stop cutting when you have the urge to. You can make new friends who have had the same problems as you. Knowing you're not alone is key in the process of healing. Ask your school guidance counselor if he/she has any listings of Teen Self Help meetings near you.
  
• Get involved with support groups such as To Write Love On Her Arms or The Butterfly Project; they're centred around helping people stop self-harming and are youth-based.
  

Warnings

• If you ever have thoughts of suicide, tell an adult NOW. They can get you immediate help.
  
• Cutting could lead to tendon injuries and/or possibly cause serious bleeding and injury to your hands, legs, hips or stomach.
  

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