Cutting Addiction: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Cutting addiction, also known as self-harm, is a complex condition characterized by the deliberate and repeated infliction of physical harm to oneself. It is often a coping mechanism used to deal with emotional pain, anxiety, and other mental health issues. The treatment for cutting addiction typically involves a combination of psychotherapy, medication, and self-help strategies. Cutting, or self-cutting, is not uncommon in the United States.

According to David Klonsky, PhD, et al.’s 2014 study “Nonsuicidal Self-Injury: What We Know, and What We Need to Know”, the prevalence of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is approximately 15% to 20% among adolescents and young adults, with a lifetime rate of about 6% among adults.

Cutting addiction is a serious condition that can have long-term physical and emotional consequences. The definition of cutting addiction is the recurring and intentional self-harm behavior, often accompanied by feelings of relief, guilt, and shame. 

The symptoms of cutting addiction include frequent reports of accidental injuries, wearing long pants and long sleeves even in hot weather, and fresh cuts, scratches, or wounds. According to the Mayo Clinic, cutting addiction is often linked to underlying mental health conditions such as depression, borderline personality disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The causes of cutting addiction are diverse and may include difficulty understanding or expressing emotions, drug or alcohol misuse, and trauma. Cutting addiction can also be a sign of an underlying addiction, such as substance use disorder.

What is cutting addiction?

Cutting addiction is a self-destructive behavior where an individual repeatedly inflicts physical harm on themselves as a coping mechanism for emotional pain or distress. It can become a compulsive habit, making it challenging to stop or manage the behavior, similar to other addictive behaviors.

Cutting addiction can manifest in several ways, including cravings to engage in self-harm behavior, difficulty stopping the behavior, and a sense of relief or satisfaction following the behavior. According to a study published in the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, Davis, S., & Lewis, C. A. (2019). Addiction to self-harm? In the case of online postings on self-harm message boards, these themes were identified through an analysis of online postings from self-harm message boards, where individuals shared their experiences and emotions related to self-harm.

The study’s findings suggest that cutting addiction can have addictive aspects, including the presence of withdrawal symptoms, relapse, and the need for continued reinforcement (Davis & Lewis, 2019). These findings highlight the importance of recognizing addiction as a complex and multifaceted issue that requires a comprehensive understanding of its underlying causes and consequences.

What is the difference between cutting addiction and self-harm?

Cutting addiction is a behavior where people frequently hurt themselves, like cutting or burning their skin, to cope with emotional distress. It can be tough to stop. On the other hand, self-harm is when someone does something to hurt themselves intentionally, typically involving skin tissue damage.

Aspect	Cutting Addiction	Self-Harm
Nature of Behavior	Deliberate cutting without intention of suicide, often with addictive tendencies	Various self-injurious behaviors such as cutting, burning, head banging, drug abuse
Intentions	No intention of suicide	No intention of suicide
Addictive Tendencies	Often characterized by cravings or addictive-like patterns	This may include other behaviors indicative of addictive tendencies

What is the relation between cutting addiction and suicide?

The relation between cutting addiction and suicide is significant. Research, such as a study by Sarah Herzog et al. in The British Journal of Psychiatry in 2022, has shown that individuals who engage in self-harm like cutting have a heightened risk of suicide compared to non-self-harming suicidal individuals. It is noted that cutting addiction may reduce the acute risk of suicide due to desensitization to physical pain, but it can increase the long-term occurrence of suicide.

Cutting addiction is associated with a significantly increased risk of suicide. According to the 2010 study “The role of seeing blood in non-suicidal self-injury” by Glenn, C. R., & Klonsky, E. D. (2010), individuals who engage in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and observe their own blood during the behavior may experience a range of negative emotions and consequences, including increased risk of suicide. This study found that among 64 young adults with a history of NSSI, 47% reported that seeing their own blood was important to them, and 63% reported that it made them feel calm. Additionally, the study found a significant association between wanting to see blood during NSSI and greater lifetime frequency of NSSI, as well as greater endorsement of intrapersonal functions for NSSI, such as affect regulation and self-punishment.

What are the signs and symptoms of cutting addiction?

The signs and symptoms of cutting addiction are the following.

1. Unexplained cuts
2. Sharp object hoarding
3. Covering skin scars with long dresses
4. Frequent Accidental injury reports
5. Excessive Scars on Skin
6. Bloodstained clothing or bandages
7. Emotional Disturbances
8. Relationship issues

1. Unexplained cuts

Unexplained cuts are breaks or openings in the skin that the individual cannot provide a clear or believable explanation for. These cuts can vary in size, depth, and location, and often appear fresh or healing.

Unexplained cuts can be a significant indicator of cutting addiction, a serious mental health condition characterized by the repeated and compulsive urge to cut oneself. While not every unexplained cut signifies addiction, frequent occurrences, coupled with other concerning behaviors, warrant professional attention.

2. Sharp object hoarding

A sharp object refers to any item that has the ability to puncture or cut the skin. People who struggle with cutting addiction often possess unnecessary sharp objects, such as razors, scissors, and knives, which can be found in unconventional locations like purses, drawers, or other hidden spots. Other common sharp objects include glass shards, box cutters, and pins. This behavior may be a symptom of cutting addiction, as individuals may feel the need to keep these objects close by for self-harm purposes.

3. Covering skin scars with long dresses

The act of covering skin scars with long dresses or wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants can be a symptom of cutting addiction. Cutting addicts use clothing to conceal their self-inflicted cuts or bruises, even in warm weather. This behavior is similar to other behavioral addictions, where individuals feel compelled to hide their habits from friends and family.

4. Frequent Accidental injury reports

Frequent reports of accidental injuries can be a symptom of cutting addiction. People who engage in cutting may try to hide their injuries, which can lead to them reporting accidental injuries as a way to explain the wounds. They report accidental injuries like hitting an object, falling, cuts from doing kitchen work, and more.

5. Excessive Scars on Skin

Excessive scars on the skin can be a symptom of cutting addiction. When skin is damaged, the body naturally repairs it by forming new tissue, which eventually turns into a scar. Cutting addicts often have numerous scars due to repeated self-harm, making excessive scarring a common symptom of this form of addiction.

6. Bloodstained clothing or bandages

Bloodstained clothing or bandages may indicate that an individual has engaged in self-harming behavior, which is often a symptom of cutting addiction. However, it’s crucial to note that it’s impossible to diagnose it solely based on clothing or bandages.

7. Emotional Disturbances

Cutting addiction, like other substance use disorders, may present with emotional withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety or anhedonia upon cessation, as well as continued use despite negative consequences. Co-occurring mental health issues like depression and anger are also commonly associated with cutting addiction.

Cutting addicts often experience frequent mood swings along with feelings of anxiety and depression. These emotional disturbances can be a result of the psychological impact of self-harm and the need to cope with the emotional pain.

Cutting behavior was associated with increased rates of major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and trauma-related symptoms of depression and dissociation, according to Swenson, Lance P. et al.’s 2008 study “Psychiatric correlates of non-suicidal cutting behaviors in an adolescent inpatient sample”.

8. Relationship issues

Relationship difficulties are a symptom of cutting addiction, as individuals with a cutting disorder may experience difficulty in their interpersonal relationships due to the physiological and psychological effects of their substance use. 

The person may struggle to maintain healthy relationships due to feelings of shame, guilt, or low self-esteem.

A study by Heather McClelland and colleagues, published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, highlights that loneliness stemming from romantic, family, or social issues can be linked to self-harm behaviors.

How do you tell if someone is cutting?

You can tell if someone is cutting if you find frequent reports of accidental injuries, or see if the person is wearing long pants and long sleeves even in hot weather, with fresh cuts, scratches, or wounds. Other signs may include emotional distress, withdrawal, and unexplained scars. If you suspect someone is self-harming, offer support and encourage them to seek professional help.

• Unexplained Cuts or Abrasions Observe: If the person has frequent cuts, scratches, or bandages on easily accessible areas like arms, chest, or thighs. This can suggest self-harming behavior.
• Strange Scars: If you can identify any unusual, fresh, or old scars on reachable parts of the body, these can be clear signs of self-injury.
• Blood on Personal Belongings: Discovering blood-soaked tissues in the trash bin may suggest cutting. Finding blood stains on clothing, hand towels, or bags without any logical explanation could indicate cutting behavior as well.
• Covering the Skin: A person struggling with self-harm attempts to conceal their scars or wounds by consistently wearing long sleeves and pants, even in warm weather, which may indicate a cutting addiction or an attempt to hide their scars from others.

What are the causes of cutting addiction?

Cutting addiction is often linked to underlying emotional pain, intense anger, and distress. It can be a coping mechanism for individuals who struggle with mental health disorders, trauma, or relationship issues. Additionally, social media and peer pressure can also contribute to the development of cutting addiction.

1. Mental Health Issues

Mental health issues can contribute to the development of cutting addiction, also known as self-harm or non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), individuals with mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, borderline personality disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are at a higher risk of engaging in NSSI.

Individuals who are overly critical of themselves and struggle with effective problem-solving techniques are more likely to develop a cutting addiction, as they find it difficult to cope with and regulate their emotions during stressful circumstances. Mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder, can contribute to the development of cutting addiction, also known as non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI).

According to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), NSSI is defined as the deliberate, self-inflicted destruction of body tissue without suicidal intent. The DSM-5 also notes that NSSI is often associated with a range of mental health disorders, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and personality disorders.

2. Substance Abuse

Substance-dependent individuals often self-mutilate, like cutting, due to emotional dysregulation. They engage in cutting for satisfaction and pleasure from increased dopamine levels.

Substance abuse and cutting addiction can be linked through shared risk factors, like impulsivity and a tendency towards self-harm. According to Lacey, J. H. (1993). Self-damaging and addictive behavior in bulimia nervosa. A catchment area study. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 163(2), 190-194. This study examined 112 normal-weight bulimic women and found that 40% reported engaging in self-damaging and addictive behaviors, with 80% of those reporting three or more behaviors. 

Substance abuse, such as tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs, was frequently associated with self-harm syndrome in a study by Baguelin-Pinaud, A. et al. in 2009.  – According to Baguelin-Pinaud, A. et al.’s (2009) study “Self-mutilating behavior: a study on 30 inpatients”,  the study involved 30 inpatients, primarily women, with a mean age of 18, who exhibited self-harm behaviors. The study discovered that 46.7% of participants had a history of tobacco use, 23.3% reported alcohol abuse, and 16.7% engaged in illicit drug use (primarily cannabis or cocaine). 

Cocaine abuse has been associated with self-mutilation, a behavior characterized by deliberate harm to one’s body without conscious intent to die, due to the pleasure of bleeding.

According to Karila, L. et al.’s 2007 case report “Self-mutilation induced by cocaine abuse: the pleasure of bleeding” published in Presse Medical, the clinical characteristics of self-mutilation are manifold and there is a lack of agreement about its etiology. The authors report a case of a female patient with recurring self-injurious behavior (“the pleasure of bleeding”) induced by cocaine abuse. The authors suggest that the complex behavior associated with cocaine abuse may be one cause of self-mutilation. Dysfunction of the inhibitory brain circuitry caused by drug addiction could explain why this cocaine-addicted patient loses control and self-mutilates during cocaine use.

3. Emotional Lack of Control

Individuals struggling with emotional dysregulation are more likely to engage in cutting as a means of coping with intense negative emotions.

According to Davis, Tchiki. Ph.D.’s 2021 article “What Is Emotional Dysregulation?” published in Psychology Today, individuals with emotional dysregulation struggle to regulate their emotional intensity and duration. They may lack awareness and understanding of their emotions, and have difficulty utilizing adaptive strategies, and avoiding emotional distress.

While emotional dysregulation alone may not directly cause cutting addiction, it can contribute to the development of this behavior as an unhealthy coping mechanism for managing overwhelming emotions.

In another study done by Gratz, K. L. (2004), in a study titled “Emotional dysregulation and suicidal behavior,” emotional dysregulation is a critical factor in understanding self-harm behaviors like cutting, found that individuals with higher levels of emotional dysregulation are more likely to engage in self-harm, including cutting, as a way to manage intense emotions that they struggle to regulate.

4. Abuse Sufferers and Family Troubles

The act of cutting can be a consequence of experiencing sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, including domestic violence and an unstable family environment. In teenagers, the most common issues related to self-harm behaviors often stem from familial difficulties.

A family environment affected by substance abuse and family issues can contribute to the development of addiction in individuals. According to Lander, Laura et al.’s 2013 article “The Impact of Substance Use Disorders on Families and Children: From Theory to Practice”, a parental substance use disorder (SUD) significantly influences child development and increases the likelihood of the child struggling with emotional, behavioral, or substance use problems.

Another study “Childhood abuse, family environment, and self-injurious behavior in adolescents,” Nock et al. (2006) found that adolescents who experienced physical, sexual, or emotional abuse were more likely to engage in self-injurious behavior, such as cutting.

What are the effects of cutting addiction?

The effects of cutting addiction, also known as self-harm, can be both physical and psychological. Physically, it can lead to injuries, infections, and scars. Psychologically, it can exacerbate mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder. It can also hinder personal relationships and social interactions, and in some cases, may even lead to suicidal thoughts or attempts. 

According to a study by Nock, M. K., & Prinstein, M. J. (2004), individuals who engage in cutting are at risk for developing mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder. The study also found that cutting is often used as a coping mechanism to relieve stress and negative emotions.

1. Bleeding, Bruising, and Scarring

Getting Bleeding, Bruising, and Scarring from cutting addiction is very common. Cutting addiction can lead to deep cuts, potentially causing excessive bleeding. Repeated self-harm through cutting can result in frequent bruising due to the breaking of blood vessels beneath the skin. And cutting can lead to scarring, as the skin heals and forms new tissue in response to the injury. Proper wound care and treatment can help minimize scarring. According to Weiguang Ho et al.’s 2018 study, individuals with cutting addiction sometimes get permanent scars due to unhealthy healing of the skin tissue.

2. Infection

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that tetanus and sepsis can be acquired by an infection of a cut or wound. Frequent cuts can result in infected wounds, as germs such as viruses and bacteria can enter through them. 

3. Mental Distress

Cutting addiction can have a significant impact on mental health, leading to general distress that manifests in various forms, including anxiety, depression, antisocial and psychotic symptoms, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and low self-esteem.

Repetitive self-harming has been found to have addictive aspects, as demonstrated by a study conducted by Sarah Davis and Christopher Alan Lewis. According to Davis, Sarah et al.’s 2019 study “Addiction to Self-harm? The Case of Online Postings on Self-harm Message Boards”, a sample of 500 online postings from four forums was analyzed to examine if themes related to addiction are present. The results showed that the postings revealed six themes: “Urge/Obsession”, “Relapse”, “Can’t/Don’t want to stop”, “Coping mechanism”, “Hiding/Shame”, and “Getting worse/Not enough”, indicating that repetitive self-harming seems to have addictive aspects. Many times individuals who partake in cutting also develop tiks or Trichotillomania as they look for emotional outlets.

4. Risk of Suicide

Individuals who engage in self-harm, like cutting, have an elevated risk of suicide compared to non-self-harming suicidal individuals according to Sarah Herzog et al.’s 2022 study published in The British Journal of Psychiatry.

5. Increased risk of substance use disorders

Cutting oneself can lead to an increased risk of heavy and dependent substance use in adulthood after one initiates self-harmful behavior during adolescence.

According to Moran P., and Coffey C. P. (2015), those adolescents who engage in self-harmful behaviors have a three-fold likelihood (OR: 3.3, 95% CI 2.1–5.0) of using substances during those early adolescent years. Moreover, results indicated that self-harm during adolescence elevates the risk of substance use syndromes in young adulthood, while adolescent substance use confounded various connections.

Also, the opposite, individuals who engage in substance use are significantly more likely to engage in self-harm, and negative affective states such as depression and anxiety are consistently associated with self-harm, according to Moller, Carl I., Tait, Robert J., and Byrne, Don G.’s 2013 systematic review “Deliberate Self-Harm, Substance Use, and Negative Affect in Nonclinical Samples: A Systematic Review”.

6. Impaired relationships

Individuals who engage in self-harm, including cutting, may develop feelings of shame, guilt, and worthlessness, which can lead to difficulties in forming and maintaining healthy relationships. Additionally, cutting addiction can also lead to increased avoidance of social interactions, social isolation, and distorted self-perception, further compromising relationships.

Does Cutting addiction affect your physical health?

Cutting addiction harms physical health, causing bleeding, bruising, infection, permanent scarring, gangrene, nerve damage, and injured muscles, tendons, and blood vessels. Frequent cutting can lead to excessive blood loss and permanent scarring. Deep cuts may damage nerves, leading to long-term weakness, numbness, or loss of movement. Also, cuts can cause tetanus and blood infections without proper treatment. Persistent infection may result in gangrene and potential amputation.

Can Cutting addiction affect your mental health?

Cutting addiction can negatively impact mental health by exacerbating conditions such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It can also lead to feelings of shame, guilt, and self-loathing, causing individuals to avoid social interactions and become isolated. Moreover, the physical and emotional scars of cutting can lead to further emotional distress, perpetuating a vicious cycle of addiction and mental health struggles.

Cutting addiction is often linked to depression and anxiety due to the psychological release it provides. According to Guest Collaborators’ 2024 blog “Psychology Behind Cutting Self Harm: Looking at the Underlying Causes”, cutting is a common form of physical self-harm that can be a coping mechanism for individuals experiencing stress, anger, and sadness.

Individuals who engage in self-harm often report higher symptoms of depression and anxiety compared to non-self-harmers. Furthermore, self-harm can lead to co-occurring mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder. According to Dr. CBH Staff’s 2023 study “Is Self-Harm an Addictive Behaviors cutting addiction can cause depression and anxiety if not addressed promptly.

Does Cutting addiction affect your brain?

Cutting addiction and non-suicidal self-injuries affect brain function due to over-activation in the front-limbic system, including the amygdala. Self-injury decreases stress in the amygdala and increases dopamine levels. Adolescents are particularly susceptible to altered neural pathways from ongoing brain development changes, resulting in emotional dysregulation and poor impulse control.

Non-suicidal self-injuries in adolescents with major depressive disorder can change the brain’s prefrontal cortex neural activity. According to Liu, H. et al.’s 2022 study, “Prefrontal cortex neural activity predicts a reduction of non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents with major depressive disorder: An event-related potential study”.

According to Faulkner, A., & Thompson, J. (2021). The neurobiology of self-harm. Journal of Affective Disorders, cutting can lead to changes in brain structure and function, particularly in regions involved in emotional regulation and pain processing. Additionally, individuals who engage in cutting may experience increased activity in the brain’s reward system, which can contribute to the development of addiction.

Furthermore, cutting addiction can also lead to changes in the brain’s neural connectivity, particularly in regions involved in emotion regulation, memory, and habit formation. This can result in difficulties with emotional regulation, memory impairment, and maladaptive behaviors, as found by Kuo, J. R., et al. (2018). Neural correlates of emotional processing in individuals with a history of self-harm. Journal of Psychiatric Research.

What are the types of cutting addiction treatment?

Cutting addiction treatment includes therapy, medication, and support groups. Therapy helps individuals understand their triggers, develop coping mechanisms, and address underlying emotional issues. Medication may be used to treat co-occurring conditions such as depression or anxiety. Support groups provide a safe space for individuals to share their experiences, connect with others, and receive encouragement.

A 2018 review article by Hawton, K., et al. titled “Nonsuicidal self-injury: A systematic review of risk factors, phenomenology, and treatment”  examined a range of treatments for NSSI, including therapy, medication, and self-help interventions. The review concluded that while there is no single “best” treatment, interventions that address the underlying causes of NSSI, such as emotional regulation difficulties and interpersonal problems, are most likely to be effective.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy can help individuals identify and manage underlying issues that trigger self-injury, as well as learn skills to better manage distress, and intense emotions, and improve their self-image, relationships, and social skills.

Several types of individual psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and mindfulness-based therapies, can be helpful in addressing self-injury.

CBT helps individuals identify unhealthy, negative beliefs and behaviors and replace them with more effective ones, while DBT teaches behavioral skills for managing distress, and emotions, and improving relationships.

According to a study by Brown, K.L., et al. (2015), titled “A systematic review and meta-analysis of psychological treatments for self-harm,” research indicates that psychological treatments designed specifically for self-harm demonstrate better outcomes than more generalized interventions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a psychotherapy modality that addresses negative self-perception and worldview, promoting positive thoughts. CBT and problem-solving therapy assist individuals in cultivating a positive orientation and minimizing stress avoidance in addressing life issues.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a widely used treatment for self-harm that aims to identify and modify thought patterns and behaviors linked to self-injury.

According to Witt, K. G. et al.’s (2021) Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews study titled “Psychosocial interventions for self-harm in adults,” CBT-based psychotherapy was found to be an effective treatment for self-harm, reducing the likelihood of repeated self-harming behaviors.

Another study, conducted by Linehan, M. M., et al. (1991), focused on the effectiveness of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), a type of CBT, in treating individuals with borderline personality disorder, which often includes self-harm behaviors. The results indicated that DBT significantly reduced suicidal and self-harm behaviors.

Family Therapy

Family therapy is a form of group psychotherapy that aims to enhance relationships and behaviors among family members. It addresses insecure parental attachment, a primary cause of adolescent self-harm behaviors. Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) and Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT) boost parental accessibility and responsiveness, creating a secure foundation for behavioral modifications.

Family therapy for cutting addiction focuses on understanding how the family system contributes to and reinforces the self-harm behavior. It helps identify communication patterns, unhealthy dynamics, and coping mechanisms that may be contributing to the cutting.  The goal is to improve communication, build healthier boundaries, and equip the family with skills to support the individual in overcoming their addiction.

Support groups

Support groups can be a valuable resource for people struggling with cutting addiction. They provide a safe and supportive environment where individuals can connect with others who understand their struggles and share their experiences. This shared understanding, emotional support, and practical advice from peers can help individuals cope with urges, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and work toward recovery.

Mindfulness practices

Mindfulness practices, like meditation and deep breathing exercises, can help people with cutting addiction by teaching them to be more aware of their thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations in the present moment. This awareness helps them recognize and interrupt the automatic thought patterns and urges that lead to self-harm. By focusing on the present moment, they can learn to manage intense emotions and urges without resorting to cutting. Mindfulness also helps people develop self-compassion and a greater understanding of their triggers, allowing them to develop healthier coping strategies.

Medications

Medications do not directly treat cutting addiction, but they can help manage underlying mental health conditions that contribute to self-harm.

If an underlying mental health condition, such as depression or an anxiety disorder, is diagnosed, a healthcare provider may recommend antidepressants or other medications to address the condition linked to self-injury.

Lifestyle changes

Lifestyle changes that involve adopting a healthy diet, regular physical activity, and maintaining a healthy weight can significantly contribute to reducing the urge to self-harm.

According to Gratz, K. L. et al.’s 2016 study ‘Emotion Regulation and Self-Harm: An Examination of the Role of Difficulties in Emotional Clarity, Acceptance, and Control’, individuals who engage in self-harm often experience difficulty regulating their emotions. Lifestyle changes that promote emotional regulation, such as engaging in mindfulness practices, deep breathing exercises, and progressive muscle relaxation, can help manage overwhelming emotions and reduce the need for self-harm.

Methods such as “keeping busy” and “being around friends” are commonly used lifestyle changes. While “doing sports or exercise” and “removing the means/instruments typically used to self-harm from the home” are most helpful to young adults with a history of skin-cutting behaviors as per a study done by Klonsky, E. David, & Glenn, Catherine R. (2008). Resisting Urges to Self-Injure. Behavioral and Cognitive Psychotherapy.

Is cutting addiction a form of self-harm?

Cutting addiction is a term commonly used to describe repetitive self-harm behavior. While self-harm isn’t technically classified as an addiction in the same way as substance abuse, it shares characteristics like providing a temporary escape from emotional distress and fostering a compulsive need to repeat the act.

Is cutting addiction a disease?

NSSI, or non-suicidal self-injury, is a complex behavior often driven by emotional distress, psychological pain, or a need to regulate emotions. It’s associated with mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, or borderline personality disorder. While not classified as an addiction, NSSI reflects a pattern of behavior that can be difficult to control. Empathy and understanding are crucial when addressing this issue, and professional mental health support can help address underlying issues contributing to self-injury.

Is cutting addiction genetic?

Cutting addiction is not directly genetic. However, a family history of mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, can increase the risk of developing self-harming behaviors. These conditions can be influenced by genetic factors, but environmental factors and life experiences also play a significant role.

Do teens experience cutting addiction withdrawal?

Yes, teens who struggle with self-harm can experience withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop.  These can include intense urges to self-harm, anxiety, and emotional distress.  Experts say these symptoms are similar to those of other addictions.

The symptoms of cutting addiction withdrawal may include a “crash” followed by fatigue, anxiety, changes in appetite and sleep patterns, emotional instability, and a sense of frustration and hopelessness, which can last up to 2-3 weeks as per a study done by Borchardt, F., Long, J., Vujan, N., & Silverman, A. H. (2009). Self-harm behavior in at-risk youth. 

Is Cutting addiction a choice?

Cutting isn’t a conscious choice made for pleasure. It’s often a coping mechanism for underlying emotional distress. People may feel they lack healthier ways to manage difficult emotions. 

Is cutting addiction a behavioral addiction?

Cutting addiction is a controversial topic in the field of addiction research, and some experts consider it a behavioral addiction, while others view it as a mental health issue or a coping mechanism for underlying issues. 

Behavioral addictions, also known as impulse control disorders, involve compulsive engagement in harmful or destructive behaviors, such as substance use, gambling, or gaming, and are characterized by a loss of control and continued use despite negative consequences. 

Cutting, which involves self-harm through cutting or burning one’s own skin, shares some similarities with these addictive behaviors, as individuals may engage in cutting as a way to cope with emotional pain, stress, or other psychological issues.

Why is cutting so addictive for teens?

Cutting can become addictive for teens due to its temporary relief from emotional pain, serving as a coping mechanism. This behavior, often used to manage intense distress, can lead to a cycle of self-harm, as reported in studies on self-harm addiction and online postings on self-harm message boards.