Discussion Cutting as an adult

[mantis]

Started cutting again after about a year, I'm 22 years old. Other adult cutters, how are we handling the shame? Or do you not feel any type of shame or guilt about it?

Don't have any irls to talk to abt this, I'm genuinely curious.

 

[vampire2002]

i'm also 22. i do still cut from time to time as well. i don't feel as much pressure to hide scars anymore as i'm an adult and i don't have to worry about my family freaking out about it anymore. they've caught me but can't really stop me. i think it's a bit of a plus to being an older cutter.
i do still feel ashamed of them and hide them often when going outside though. i do wish i could get rid of so many scars. i just wear tights and long sleeves most of the time when leaving home, even going to physical therapy where i have to exercise a lot, because the looks people give me are something i prefer to avoid. i already stand out enough where i live, since it is an incredibly homogenous state. i don't want to experience more mistreatment/judgment for being different than everyone else if i can avoid it.

 

[wishingonstars]

Another 22 year old who still cuts here, my therapist really helped me with the shame I used to have surrounding it. In the end cutting is just another coping mechanism, it's also not a teenage thing plenty of adults do it. If you've never tried internal family systems (IFS) therapy I recommend it for dealing with shame of any kind. Whatever part of you wants to cut is just trying to protect you and help you cope because either you don't have other more healthy coping mechanisms or you do and they aren't enough.

 

[Upon a hanging Body]

I don't feel anything about it , I just do it to balance myself.

 

[sweetcreep]

i'm in my 30s. couple months clean so far. i personally feel a lot of shame around my scars and do my best to never wear shorts or go to the beach. since no one sees them i don't have to speak about them. sometimes people glance at my arms but those are so light and faded that they blend in with the scratches my cats give me when i play with them.

 

[darksouls]

there is no need to feel guilt or shame about it, people are indifferent to me, I dont hide my scars

 

[iamanavalanche]

i started cutting recently and im around the same age. i dont feel any guilt or shame about it really since its just how i cope with my suffering.

 

[Lions303]

Honestly fine with it. Do feel a bit shameful yeah but no one cares. Gone out in a t shirt which was after 1 night where cuts healed and no one even looked or asked so not bothered about drawing attention to myself

 

[avalokitesvara]

I'm 34. I started cutting at 13/14, then stopped, started again around 23, stopped again, and started again at 33.
I don't really feel ashamed. I know people think it's stupid and childish, but they're not me. I understand why I choose to do it, and it's my body, I get to decide what to do with it. A lot of people do things to their bodies that I find stupid and immature, like tattoos and plastic surgery, but I don't judge them.

 

[westerly_merlin]

I am 57 and still cut occasionally.

I so feel some shame that at my age I am still resorting to behaviours I did in my teens, but tend to cut in areas that won't be seen as I am not a top off or short-shorts sort of guy.

 

[kazatte]

i'm 19 and i occasionally cut. i kind of like looking at my scars but i don't like other people looking at them, if that makes sense? i don't want to be judged for them. i'm a thigh cutter so i've been able to hide my scars since i began doing it last year, but when i'm wearing short shorts (like rn actually) people can see them, especially the large one on my thigh. i don't really feel ashamed, just scared that people are going to find out, in a way

 

[Forveleth]

40 here. I do it as a way to cope with my anxiety and depression. I have tried many other things to solve my problems or at least cope and none of them have worked. This is what I am left with. I do not feel any shame or guilt about it.