How can I hide that I cut from my parents?

A lot of cutters have found this article helpful: http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/problems/resisting_cutting.html

If you’ve been cutting and you want to stop, here are some approaches that might help you.

For people who cut, doing something different may be a big change. Making this change can take time because you are learning new ways of dealing with the things that led you to cut. The tips you’ll see below can get you started. But a therapist or counselor can do more to help you heal old hurt and use your strengths to cope with life’s struggles.

Start by being aware of which situations are likely to trigger your urge to cut. Make a commitment that this time you will not follow the urge, but will do something else instead.

Then make a plan for what you will do instead of cutting when you feel this urge.

Below are some tips you can try when you feel the urge to cut. We’ve put them into several categories because different people cut for different reasons. So certain techniques will work better for some people than others.

Look through all the tips and try the ones that you think might work for you. You may need to experiment because not all of these ideas will work for everyone. For example, some readers have told us that snapping a rubber band works for them as a substitute for cutting but others say that the rubber band triggers an urge to snap it too hard and they end up hurting themselves.

If one tip isn’t right for you, that’s OK. Use your creativity to find a better idea. Or talk with your therapist to get other ideas on what could work for you. The idea is to find a substitute for cutting — something that satisfies a need you might feel without being as harmful as cutting.

You may also find that one of these ideas works for you sometimes but not always. That’s OK too. What a person needs can vary from time to time and from situation to situation.

Following the techniques listed below will help you think about why you might cut. The more you learn about what’s underneath your cutting behavior, the better you will be able to understand and develop healthy ways to heal that pain.

Things That Might Distract You

Like all urges, the urge to cut will pass if you wait it out. Distracting yourself with something else helps time go by and gets your mind off the urge to cut. The more you wait out the urge without giving in, the more your urges will decrease over time.

Here are some things you can try while waiting for a cutting urge to pass:

* call a friend and talk about something completely different
* take a shower (make sure you don't have razors in the shower)
* go for a walk or run, take a bike ride, dance like crazy, or get some other form of exercise
* play with a pet
* watch TV (change the channel if the show gets upsetting or features cutting)
* drink a glass of water

Things That Might Soothe and Calm You

Sometimes people cut because they’re agitated or angry — even though they may not recognize that feeling. If that’s true for you, it can help to do something calming when you feel the need to cut.

Even if you’re not sure why you’re cutting, it’s worth giving these ideas a try:

* play with a pet
* take a shower (make sure you don't have razors in the shower)
* take a bath (make sure you don't have razors near the tub)
* listen to soothing music that will shift your mood
* try a breathing exercise
* try some relaxing yoga exercises

Things That Might Help You Express the Pain and Deep Emotion

Some people cut because the emotions that they feel seem way too powerful and painful to handle. Often, it may be hard for them to recognize these emotions for what they are — like anger, sadness, or other feelings. Here are some alternatives to cutting that you can try:

* draw or scribble designs on paper using a red pen or paint on white paper — if it helps, make the paint drip
* write out your hurt, anger, or pain using a pen and paper
* draw the pain
* compose songs or poetry to express what you're feeling
* listen to music that talks about how you feel

Things That Might Help Release Physical Tension and Distress

Sometimes, doing things that express anger or release tension can help a person gradually move away from cutting. Try these ideas:

* go for a walk or run, ride a bike, dance like crazy, or get some other form of exercise
* rip up some paper
* write out your hurt, anger, or pain using a pen and paper
* scribble on paper using a red pen
* squeeze, knead, or smoosh a stress ball, handful of clay, or Play-Doh

Things That Might Help You Feel Supported and Connected

If you cut because you feel alone, misunderstood, unloved, or disconnected, these ideas may help:

* call a friend
* play with a pet
* make a cup of tea, some warm milk, or cocoa
* try some yoga exercises that help you feel grounded, such as triangle pose
* try a breathing exercise like the one in the button above
* curl up on your bed in a soft, cozy blanket

Things That Are Substitutes for the Cutting Sensation

You’ll notice that all the tips in the lists above have nothing to do with the cutting sensation. When you have the idea to self-injure, start by trying the ideas on those lists — such as making art, walking your dog, or going for run.

If they don’t help, move on to the substitute behaviors shown below.

These substitute behaviors won’t work for everyone. They also don’t help people get in touch with why they are cutting. What they do is provide immediate relief in a way that doesn’t involve cutting, and therefore holds less risk of harm.

* rub an ice cube on your skin instead of cutting it
* wear a rubber band around your wrist and snap it gently against your skin
* draw on the skin with a soft-tipped red pen in the place you might usually cut

Cutting can be a difficult pattern to break. But it is possible. If you want help overcoming a self-injury habit and you’re having trouble finding anything that works for you, talk with a therapist. Getting professional help to overcome the problem doesn’t mean that someone is weak or crazy. Therapists and counselors are trained to help people discover inner strengths that help them heal. These inner strengths can then be used to cope with life’s problems in a healthy way.

Reviewed by: D’Arcy Lyness, PhD Date reviewed: February 2006

If it is on your forearms wear the Arm warmers they are in style still you can find them at Claire’s or Aredenes. if it is your wrists get the wrist sweat bands from the same places they have cute little designs on them. I was a cutter and you should seek some help. It isn’t good for your body at all. Not only that but the more you cut the more scare tissue and the more hurt you are causing yourself. It might even be smart to tell your mom. I did it was the smartest thing I did.

Do it on your legs, I wear jeans all year long. My mom only noticed once, and I just lied.

well if you want to hide your cutts like did you should cut wer its not visible like I use to do it on my back an stomach anywere that pple couldnt c unless you took off your shirt or sumthin.but I think you should try 2 stop cutting like im trying right now to stopp an its hella hard but its bettr that dont.

stop before you get addicted then theres no hiding it and since cutting is a mood and adrenaline regulator it could be considered a gateway drug good luck

u can wear makeup, tho I know that doesnt work until the cuts have healed, braclets, GLOVES, they work wonders, if the cuts are realy new you can use a bandagde, but dont use that to long or they will get suspicios trust me. um if you can cut on ure legs or stomach esier places to hide them. I hope you can stop, im trying to, tho im not having much luck. well good luck! xx aryn

you can continue to wear long sleeves if it is on your forearms. If it’s your wrists wear bracelets or watches until they heal. If you are still cutting please get help asap. It will be hard, but it will help. Until you decide you can stop start cutting in less obvious places. I use to cut on my thighs to hide it.

cover it up with make up and keep it to your self intill the scars are gone trust me do it. you dont want to be taken away from your friends and everything you love.

If your scars are only on your wrist area, go to some place like Claire’s and buy some cute wristbands that you like, if they are up and down your arms, go to Walmart, and buy Mary-Kate and Ashley concealer make-up. I am a cutter myself, have been for 2 years and know how it goes. Just a tip, don’t let anybody at school see, if they tell a teacher of school counselor, they are forced by government law to contact your parents. And I’m speaking for experience. Good luck, and I hope you beat the addiction!

If you don’t want to talk to your parents about it, talk to a counselor or similar professional. You need help, and while your parents might not be able to help, they can help you to find a professional who can help.

have a friend hide anything that you could cut yourself with..thats what my friends do

wear long sleeves or jackets when your around them…

I have the same problem when I took off my jacket every1 saw my cuts and I was grounded for cutting myself :(

If you do not want to stop like everyone else is suggesting, and you only want it covered up, try makeup that matches your skin color, wristbands, or bracelets.

cutting is very un healthy u really need to stop!!! u could really hurt yourself!!!

you stop cutting then you wont have anything to hide. easy as that.

wrist bands

I have the same problem with my mom she always wants me not to wear sleeves but I tell her I dont feel right. Probaly you should tell your mom you dont feel right and she might understand.Thatz what I told my mom but I didnt work out for me but it might for you!