3 definitions by jasmocha
a method of self-injury that involves habitually making shallow lacerations in one's skin with a razor blade, knife, or other sharp object.
Cutting and other self-harming behaviors are coping mechanisms in response to stress or anxiety, depression, compulsive feelings, feelings of emptiness, or other distressing emotions. The act of cutting releases endorphins, producing calm relief or even euphoria. While not chemically addictive, self-injury can be extremely difficult to stop simply because it is so effective, despite its attendant risks and overwhelming social stigma.
Self-harming behaviors are by definition NOT suicide attempts, although cutting can result in serious infections or accidental death - or more often, trips to the emergency room for stitches.
A popular assumption is that most cutters are young women, often with a history of psychological trauma, abuse, or loss. The demographics of cutters are actually difficult to determine - in part because, contrary to another common belief, most cutters go to great lengths to conceal their behavior.
Female cutters often self-injure in less publicly visible areas, such as their thighs, and/or wear jewelry, makeup, and clothing meant to cover up their wounds. Some cutters who have many obvious scars nonetheless are ashamed of their behavior and won't admit to it if questioned. Cat scratches or shaving cuts are common excuses.
A wider definition of self-injury includes, in addition to self-burning, behaviors such as banging one's head, hitting oneself, and scratching or pinching oneself, which are more common than cutting among young people of both genders.
The demographics of cutting may be changing as the behavior is more widely publicized. People who formerly practiced some of these other less harmful behaviors may be tempted to experiment with cutting. If they continue to do so, it is probably because they find cutting to be satisfying or effective, NOT because the behavior is or ever has been "trendy."
As for the association with emo music and culture, most (but not all) cutters are young people, and many young people listen to emo bands. In addition, people who are distressed are often attracted to music that relates to what they are going through. However, since most cutters conceal their behavior, it may be only a small minority that vocally identifies with emo culture.
The maliciously joking attitude that many people have toward cutting may be due to the disgust, confusion, and horror that the idea generally provokes. Becoming educated about cutting can diminish those feelings and help to create a supportive attitude toward friends and family members who struggle with self-injury.
Cutting and other self-harming behaviors are coping mechanisms in response to stress or anxiety, depression, compulsive feelings, feelings of emptiness, or other distressing emotions. The act of cutting releases endorphins, producing calm relief or even euphoria. While not chemically addictive, self-injury can be extremely difficult to stop simply because it is so effective, despite its attendant risks and overwhelming social stigma.
Self-harming behaviors are by definition NOT suicide attempts, although cutting can result in serious infections or accidental death - or more often, trips to the emergency room for stitches.
A popular assumption is that most cutters are young women, often with a history of psychological trauma, abuse, or loss. The demographics of cutters are actually difficult to determine - in part because, contrary to another common belief, most cutters go to great lengths to conceal their behavior.
Female cutters often self-injure in less publicly visible areas, such as their thighs, and/or wear jewelry, makeup, and clothing meant to cover up their wounds. Some cutters who have many obvious scars nonetheless are ashamed of their behavior and won't admit to it if questioned. Cat scratches or shaving cuts are common excuses.
A wider definition of self-injury includes, in addition to self-burning, behaviors such as banging one's head, hitting oneself, and scratching or pinching oneself, which are more common than cutting among young people of both genders.
The demographics of cutting may be changing as the behavior is more widely publicized. People who formerly practiced some of these other less harmful behaviors may be tempted to experiment with cutting. If they continue to do so, it is probably because they find cutting to be satisfying or effective, NOT because the behavior is or ever has been "trendy."
As for the association with emo music and culture, most (but not all) cutters are young people, and many young people listen to emo bands. In addition, people who are distressed are often attracted to music that relates to what they are going through. However, since most cutters conceal their behavior, it may be only a small minority that vocally identifies with emo culture.
The maliciously joking attitude that many people have toward cutting may be due to the disgust, confusion, and horror that the idea generally provokes. Becoming educated about cutting can diminish those feelings and help to create a supportive attitude toward friends and family members who struggle with self-injury.
In the dark comedy Secretary, Maggie Gyllenhaal plays a character named Lee who struggles with cutting but stops during the course of the film.
Edward: Why do you cut yourself, Lee?
Lee: I don't know.
Edward: Is it that sometimes the pain inside has to come to the surface, and when you see evidence of the pain inside you finally know you're really here? Then, when you watch the wound heal, it's comforting, isn't it?
Lee: I... That's a way to put it.
Edward: Why do you cut yourself, Lee?
Lee: I don't know.
Edward: Is it that sometimes the pain inside has to come to the surface, and when you see evidence of the pain inside you finally know you're really here? Then, when you watch the wound heal, it's comforting, isn't it?
Lee: I... That's a way to put it.
by jasmocha October 17, 2006
a term for someone with bipolar disorder or manic-depressive illness, a mood disorder characterized by periods of depression including:
-persistent sadness
-low energy
-hopelessness
-suicidal thoughts
as well as periods of mania in bipolar I disorder, or hypomania (a less extreme form) in bipolar II disorder. Symptoms of hypomania include:
-grandiose ideas
-racing thoughts
-reckless overindulgence
-high energy/decreased need for sleep
When hypomania escalates into mania, symptoms include:
-incomprehensibly fast thoughts/speech
-dangerously impulsive behavior
-possible psychosis
Contrary to popular belief, most people with bipolar disorder are not constantly fluctuating between extremes. They may experience normal moods for extended periods of time, and a single mood episode tends to last for a few weeks, though mania can quickly become depression and vice versa.
Another common misconception is that bipolar disorder is like depression, but with the bonus of hypomania. Depressive symptoms are equally severe in bipolar I and II disorders, but for people with bipolar I disorder, mania is at least as dangerous and frightening as depression.
Even for those people who experience relatively harmless highs, depression tends to immediately follow hypomania. Whereas major depression can be treated with therapy (as well as medication) and possibly never recur, there is no cure for bipolar disorder and therapy is of limited use. Bipolar disorder has a strong genetic basis and is usually found in families.
People with bipolar disorder are often stereotyped as screw-ups, drug addicts, etc. There is a strong link between bipolar disorder and substance abuse, but many people either recover from or avoid these problems altogether and lead relatively normal, responsible lives.
Your girlfriend when she is mad at you = not bipolar
Anyone bitchy or randomly moody = probably not bipolar
-persistent sadness
-low energy
-hopelessness
-suicidal thoughts
as well as periods of mania in bipolar I disorder, or hypomania (a less extreme form) in bipolar II disorder. Symptoms of hypomania include:
-grandiose ideas
-racing thoughts
-reckless overindulgence
-high energy/decreased need for sleep
When hypomania escalates into mania, symptoms include:
-incomprehensibly fast thoughts/speech
-dangerously impulsive behavior
-possible psychosis
Contrary to popular belief, most people with bipolar disorder are not constantly fluctuating between extremes. They may experience normal moods for extended periods of time, and a single mood episode tends to last for a few weeks, though mania can quickly become depression and vice versa.
Another common misconception is that bipolar disorder is like depression, but with the bonus of hypomania. Depressive symptoms are equally severe in bipolar I and II disorders, but for people with bipolar I disorder, mania is at least as dangerous and frightening as depression.
Even for those people who experience relatively harmless highs, depression tends to immediately follow hypomania. Whereas major depression can be treated with therapy (as well as medication) and possibly never recur, there is no cure for bipolar disorder and therapy is of limited use. Bipolar disorder has a strong genetic basis and is usually found in families.
People with bipolar disorder are often stereotyped as screw-ups, drug addicts, etc. There is a strong link between bipolar disorder and substance abuse, but many people either recover from or avoid these problems altogether and lead relatively normal, responsible lives.
Your girlfriend when she is mad at you = not bipolar
Anyone bitchy or randomly moody = probably not bipolar
The Rilo Kiley song "A Better Son/Daughter" is often thought to be about bipolar disorder:
And sometimes when you're on, you're really fucking on
And your friends, they sing along and they love you
But the lows are so extreme that the good seems fucking cheap
And it teases you for weeks in its absence
And sometimes when you're on, you're really fucking on
And your friends, they sing along and they love you
But the lows are so extreme that the good seems fucking cheap
And it teases you for weeks in its absence
by jasmocha October 16, 2006
a term for someone with bipolar disorder or manic-depressive illness, a mood disorder characterized by periods of depression including:
-persistent sadness
-low energy
-hopelessness
-suicidal thoughts
as well as periods of mania in bipolar I disorder, or hypomania (a less extreme form) in bipolar II disorder. Symptoms of hypomania include:
-grandiose ideas
-racing thoughts
-reckless overindulgence
-high energy/decreased need for sleep
When hypomania escalates into mania, symptoms include:
-incomprehensibly fast thoughts/speech
-dangerously impulsive behavior
-possible psychosis
Contrary to popular belief, most people with bipolar disorder are not constantly fluctuating between extremes. They may experience normal moods for extended periods of time, and a single mood episode tends to last for a few weeks, though mania can quickly become depression and vice versa.
Another common misconception is that bipolar disorder is like depression, but with the bonus of hypomania. Depressive symptoms are equally severe in bipolar I and II disorders, but for people with bipolar I disorder, mania is at least as dangerous and frightening as depression.
Even for those people who experience relatively harmless highs, depression tends to immediately follow hypomania. Whereas major depression can be treated with therapy (as well as medication) and possibly never recur, there is no cure for bipolar disorder and therapy is of limited use. Bipolar disorder has a strong genetic basis and is usually found in families.
People with bipolar disorder are often stereotyped as screw-ups, drug addicts, etc. There is a strong link between bipolar disorder and substance abuse, but many people either recover from or avoid these problems altogether and lead relatively normal, responsible lives.
Your girlfriend when she is mad at you = not bipolar
Anyone bitchy or randomly moody = probably not bipolar
-persistent sadness
-low energy
-hopelessness
-suicidal thoughts
as well as periods of mania in bipolar I disorder, or hypomania (a less extreme form) in bipolar II disorder. Symptoms of hypomania include:
-grandiose ideas
-racing thoughts
-reckless overindulgence
-high energy/decreased need for sleep
When hypomania escalates into mania, symptoms include:
-incomprehensibly fast thoughts/speech
-dangerously impulsive behavior
-possible psychosis
Contrary to popular belief, most people with bipolar disorder are not constantly fluctuating between extremes. They may experience normal moods for extended periods of time, and a single mood episode tends to last for a few weeks, though mania can quickly become depression and vice versa.
Another common misconception is that bipolar disorder is like depression, but with the bonus of hypomania. Depressive symptoms are equally severe in bipolar I and II disorders, but for people with bipolar I disorder, mania is at least as dangerous and frightening as depression.
Even for those people who experience relatively harmless highs, depression tends to immediately follow hypomania. Whereas major depression can be treated with therapy (as well as medication) and possibly never recur, there is no cure for bipolar disorder and therapy is of limited use. Bipolar disorder has a strong genetic basis and is usually found in families.
People with bipolar disorder are often stereotyped as screw-ups, drug addicts, etc. There is a strong link between bipolar disorder and substance abuse, but many people either recover from or avoid these problems altogether and lead relatively normal, responsible lives.
Your girlfriend when she is mad at you = not bipolar
Anyone bitchy or randomly moody = probably not bipolar
The Rilo Kiley song "A Better Son/Daughter" is often thought to be about bipolar disorder:
And sometimes when you're on, you're really fucking on
And your friends, they sing along and they love you
But the lows are so extreme that the good seems fucking cheap
And it teases you for weeks in its absence
And sometimes when you're on, you're really fucking on
And your friends, they sing along and they love you
But the lows are so extreme that the good seems fucking cheap
And it teases you for weeks in its absence
by jasmocha October 16, 2006