Cutting: Why Do People Self-Injure?

Why does someone you love hurt themselves? Why can't they just stop?

If you're searching for answers about self-harm, you're not alone. Every year, millions of people—teenagers, young adults, and even successful public figures—struggle with self-injury. Behind closed doors, they carry wounds that go far deeper than what appears on their skin. Drawing on current 2024-2025 research and real-world case studies—including Princess Diana's and Johnny Depp's struggles—this brief book explores the psychology, neuroscience, and root causes of self-injury. Discover why emergency room visits for self-injury in the U.S. rose from 0.6% in 2011 to 2.1% in 2020—a 250% increase over nine years, how childhood trauma, sexual abuse, and invalidating environments create perfect storms for self-harm, and the five core psychological functions that drive this behavior and how to break this cycle. If you are struggling with self-harm, know that you are not alone, that help is available, and that recovery is possible.