You are wrong. Self harm is a known symptom of BPD. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/borderline-personality-disorder/index.shtmlAfter reading through this thread, I realized that not one member who replied has stated that they have actually worked in a clinical setting with people who display Self Abusive Behaviour/Self Injurious Behaviour (SIB's), aside from perhaps stitching them up and then having not an ounce of empathy.
Cutting is a known addiction. It has nothing to do with the person being Borderline Personality (that's a disorder all on it's own and cutting is not a characteristic trait of the disorder). I worked in Social Services for almost 25 years and I've dealt with shit that people haven't even heard of, let along even understand. During my years working with adolescents and young adults who were cutters but who also fit the bill of Clinical Depression, Anxiety Disorders, Suicidal tendencies, etc. I was able to see this affliction first hand.
My years working in clinical settings with mild to severely autistic individuals also showed a similar pattern of SIB: although often more severe.
Persons who cut aren't necessarily out to get your sympathy and attention. Actually, it's usually quite the opposite - although some will engage in the behaviour for the kicks or for attention. If they walk around displaying their craftwork for all to see then they don't typically fit the bill of a cutter: these ones are looking for attention which to them is often positive in nature. The old, "Look at what I did...almost cut that vein right in half...I'm a bad ass."
True cutters will not dance around showing off their cuts and scars. They are often embarrassed about them, go to great lengths to conceal them and rarely talk to others about them. It's not something most of them are proud of.
As an addiction, cutting usually starts off at a young age (early teens). Often it ends there. But if the person goes on to develop Major Depression and/or Anxiety Disorder (in it's many forms) then it becomes something that the person will continue to perform in order to feel in charge of their lives and bodies - and this can continue into adult life. Most often it's a major release of Anxiety for the afflicted: but it only lasts so long - just like a drug. Then they need to do it again.
These ones don't want your sympathy - they hide what they've done and tend to cut in areas of their body that they can easily cover over. There's not much attention seeking in that. It's also not necessarily a sign of suicide, although many cases of extensive SIB can lead to death. Empathy before sympathy, unless you have been trained to deal with this behaviour. Afterall, someone in your own family could develop this and folks would change their "it's all for attention" attitude real quick.
If you're not an alcoholic, or a druggie, or a gambler or a cutter and your knowledge about such things is limited - then your opinion/s on the matter means shit and you're in no position to even discuss it.
For those that don't agree with me, then let us know your professional/clinical experience and knowledge about the subject that allows you to speak so negatively of people who cut. Have you worked with teens/adults in a clinical setting who suffer from this disorder? Have you been professionally trained to deal with such people?
There are many effective treatment modalities to help treat cutters and help them to stop. I like knowing that I don't just judge people by some behaviour that I don't understand or dislike. It's something that anyone can do.
And that's my $3.68 worth
Yes I have worked in psychiatric facilities. The issues I have with cutters is the attention seekers. I have a great deal of empathy for people who are truly in pain. I have very little patience for those who use it as a manipulation tool to get their way and to hurt those who love them.
