I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT CUTTING 
Ask The Doctor Dr. Leland Heller Biological Unhappiness 
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT CUTTING 
Question: I’ve been cutting for five years now, and there’s something I’d like to know about it: 1. How many people REALLY self mutilate? Because it seems like everyone does in one way or another. 2. I was told by a psychotherapist that cutting myself would be a fine and effective way of self medicating for a decade, but then I’ll have a nervous breakdown and go insane forever. Is that true? 3. How much would you have to cut yourself to cause a really bad infection? I mean, I’ve never gotten one and I cut a lot. But, I’ve heard that you get infections from it all the time. Dr. Heller’s Answer: 1) True cutting is an uncommon event, likely less than 5% of borderlines. It is extremely uncommon in the general population. Cutting alters the neurological sensations one experiences during dysphoria (anxiety, rage, depression and despair), but scares off many potential friends and mates and harms the self-esteem of the cutter. The use of as-needed medications for dysphoria (anxiety, rage, depression and despair) is much safer and more effective. With severe itching from an insect bite people will scratch in a linear manner to make themselves feel better. The major difference is that its due to a skin problem, not a brain problem. 2) Totally and completely ridiculous. Cutting is an effective way of self-medication – but at an enormous cost to the self-confidence and self-esteem of the cutter. The goal is a happy and successful life, and cutting interferes with that goal, but it in no way causes permanent insanity. 3) You can get a bad infection any time you cut – it depends on what germs are present. So far youve been lucky, but Ive seen some horrendous infections. 
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