I hate the fact that everyone makes a big deal about my cutting. To me, it's just how I deal with my frustration, anxiety, depression, etc. It's not the most practical solution, and it doesn't change the situation, but it serves it purpose. It distracts me from my problems, at least for the moment. To me, this falls into the same method as medication or counseling, or doing activities to keep busy or involve oneself in. They all serve the same purpose, to keep you from thinking of your problems. All these things don't make the problem go away, they just help to put it aside.
I don't want to be on medication. I don't want to see a counselor or psychiatrist about it. I've seen professionals many times in the past for lots of different issues, it doesn't do anything for me. I just want people to accept that it is the way I deal with things and take me for who I am.

I'm covered in scars. I try my best to not put them in places that are easily seen, but it happens. Even the fact that I have to worry about hiding them, or that I should be ashamed of them is very frustrating. I'm pretty sure that there have even been a lot of job and social opportunities that have passed me up because of it. I find that hypocritical. If I was medicating myself for the same issues it would be perfectly acceptable. Whatever, that's just ignorant people judging me before they know me and they can stick it where the sun doesn't shine. What I really hate, is people try to console me about it and telling me I shouldn't be doing it. As opposed to what, exactly? Do they think cutting was the first coping method I turned to? Obviously the more conventional methods "normal" people use aren't doing it for me. This works better.

What mostly bothers me, aside from people making me feel like I have some sort of disease, is that my family and friends give me so much grief over it. They see new cuts and they start going off about how I shouldn't do that to myself, that they don't want to be around me if I'm going to be doing that, etc. etc. Everyone deals with life differently. I have poor coping skills. I accept that. I also accept that this at least in a small way, works for me.

Why can't other people deal with that, and just let me be? I'm tired of having to hide it.

How can I get people to accept me for my cutting?