" Cutting is not attention seeking. It's not manipulation. It's a coping mechanism—a punitive, unpleasant, potentially dangerous one—but it works. It helps me cope with strong emotions that I don't know how to deal with. Don't tell me I'm sick, don't tell me to stop. Don't try to make me feel guilty, that how I feel already. Listen to me, support me, help me. "

― Marilee Strong , A Bright Red Scream: Self-Mutilation and the Language of Pain