A Flash of Inspiration

Cutting Away the Pain

The numbness overtakes you. Emotions can barely break through the barrier of your pain, your hate of yourself, your anger, your inability to understand. Maybe you feel like you deserve to punished. Maybe you just want to feel, to feel anything at all.

Some turn to God, some to friends, some to family. Some take a large step forwards and consult a doctor or therapist, some take meds, some just feel alone and abandoned.

Some turn to a knife.

Maybe you know someone who cuts. Maybe you yourself cut. Someday you may meet someone who cuts.

The scars may be hidden, or maybe not. Those scars caused by the knife, but also mental scars, the ones that take longer to heal, the scars of hurt and pain and lonlieness and incomprehension.

Maybe the one cutting is someone you love. You see their scars, both physical and mental, and feel utterly useless, and completely afraid. Maybe they have promised to stop, but have kept going.

The solution can only be the cutter themself. Or, is some cases, yourself, if you cut.

First off, is cutting wrong?

Cutting. Taking a knife and splitting open your own skin in order to feel pain. Damaging what God has created, for a specific purpose. Horribly hurting everyone who loves you, SO much. There can be no argument. You may tell yourself it's the right thing to do, but deep down you know. You know it can't possibly be okay.

Would you allow a friend to do this, if you had the choice? Of course not! Why let them harm themself (not to mention you as well, and all who care for them) both physically and mentally? Theres no point to them, the scars that form both ways.

It is not okay. No way around it.

But what can I do for a loved one who will not stop?

You can comfort. You need to comfort. Do not press or annoy them, that just makes it worse. Find things for them to do, activities they are good at. ALWAYS be there for them.

Maybe they have promised to stop, but the scars still appear? It might be a good idea to talk to a therapist or councilor who can help out. Perhaps cutting could be a form of depression of anxiety, and there are ways to help with that.

Another idea is the Butterfly Project. The person cutting uses a pen, marker, whatever, and draws a butterfly whoever they usually cut. Inside or around the butterfly they write the name of a loved one. If they cut, the butterfly dies. If they do not, and it fades away over time, then it has been released to live its life.

This idea has helped people, and may be what they need to do. Always remember to be there whenever they need to talk. DO NOT get annoyed.

I cut, and I can't seem to stop, or maybe I don't think I need to.

Numb. That's the feeling lots of people who cut feel. Cutting makes them feel something. Is that the case for you? Or do you feel the need to punish yourself?

If you feel that you deserve punishment, I STRONGLY suggest you look to God. No matter what you do, He loves you. He cares for you, and He has a plan. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Yes, God has a plan. And He will forgive you and love upu always. He wants to you let yourself be His vessel, His masterpiece.

Maybe you feel numb, and cuttong makes you feel something, at least. But does it help? Does knifing yourself honestly take away any pain? Does the pain this causes loved ones fix your problems? It just doesn't work that way. You want something to change? Then change. If you feel the need, try what I call Restart. Forget the past, just forget it. Forget your torement and troubles. Right now, decide to become a new person. Leave the person you hate behind.

I'm ugly. I've even been told so.

Oh the pain it brings me when someone's joke changes a life to desperate measures. If this is what you think, please dont think about that person's comment. I know it's hard. But honestly, if that person would say something so horrible, do you really care about their opinion? The Lord looks at the heart, as do friends.

No one cares.

NEVER tell yourself this. Are you in a house right now? Has someone left you on a street corner? Do you get food, or go to school, or have a few friends? Then you are blessed. If you don't think anyone cares, you aren't looking far enough. God cares, always and unconditionally. You have to find the people who will impact you. Sometimes, they come in and take you by surprise. Step out of your comfort zone, and take a leap towards who you want to be.

Final note.

I can't stress this enough, cutting makes nothing better. The only thing it can do is make things worse. Stop for yourself, stop for others who care about you. Have someone move sharp objects. Remove the temptation, ignore the urge. Try ripping apart paper, or some other stress reliever. If upu would like to talk to me about something, please just message me. Pray. You are loved. I pray peace and comfort for all those struggling.