Self-Injury Support Group

I've noticed that a lot of web-sites refer to cutting, burning, ect., as Self Injury, or SI for short. When I was hospitialized in 1997-98, they called me a "self-mutilator." Others, have called me a cutter. what is the politically correct term? I personally hated it when they would call me a self-mutilator or a cutter, only because when they said it, they made it sound like that's all I was. I wasn't a person. I wasn't Tiffany. I was just some self-mutilator who would not admit she was trying to kill herself. In 2005 when I was hospitialized, it was such a relief that the doctors recognized the lacerations on my legs were not an attempt at death, but an attempt at life. When I was 15 I would call it a "life attempt" but they just marked it down as denile. I want to thank everyone again for being so helpful. I really have felt understood and this has been a great coping mechanism for me. I have not cut in awhile, and things like this site contribute to my success. Thanks guys!

When I was hospitalized they used SI Self Injurer. I tend to like this the best. The others sound like it was more than that. Some countries call it different too.

I hate the term "self mutilation"....i've seen pictures of REAL self mutilation and its WAY WAY more severe than SI. What people do to their bodies, I just can't fathom it in my mind. I guess severe SI could be considered SM though.

If someone called me a SM I'd be insulted!!

yeah i have to admit i prefer SI than any other term... i feel the others judge us and try and put us in a catorgory with tribes or people others do not consider civilised. in many native tribes they will stretch their ears or necks or genitalia and this is what historics or poeple like that call self mutilation or body modification ... that is not what we do ... so yeah this is why i associate us with self injure...

big hugs

Storm

I dont think any other people will understant us why we do theses things to our self i know now that we are here for each other that is what matters the most though

I agree hippy1975

I have been called all. I don't like self mutilator either. Self injurer is fine. Cutter is usually what I say cause people seem to understand better and that is where my main addiction with self harm lies. Which happens to be another good one, self harm.

Hi

It is "self harmer" here and I agree I also hate the term self mutilator as I don't think what I do constitutes that term.

Jenny

Not sure what the PC term is but I prefer "self harmer" it just seems to be the least threatening.