why do people cut themselves

People cut themselves primarily as a way to cope with emotional pain, intense pressure, or upsetting relationship problems. It is often an attempt to relieve overwhelming feelings such as anger, sadness, rejection, frustration, or emptiness when the person has difficulty expressing or managing these emotions in a healthy way. Cutting can provide a sense of relief from emotional distress, help the person feel in control, or express inner pain externally. Some may use it as a way to punish themselves or communicate distress. It often starts impulsively and can be linked to mental health issues like depression or anxiety. Although it may seem like an attempt to feel better, cutting can become a compulsive behavior, almost like an addiction, reinforced by the temporary relief it provides from emotional tension.