(They want to remain anonymous.)

Ask: Tell me how I can get my friend to stop cutting? 

I knew this one would most likely pop up sooner or later because a lot of people struggle with this. 

I can say I am a victim of cutting. I don't do it anymore. 

Cutting, if you're not craving attention like some people I knew when I did it, is usually done because it, "causes physical pain so you don't have to feel the emotional pain as much."

All I can say for you to tell your friend, dear, is that I understand it. Really, I do. But it's something they personally have to over come for it to do any good for themselves. 

I know what they're feeling. Like they're worthless, like they don't matter. Like they're possibly the ugliest creature ever brought on Earth but you  tell them that they are so very wrong. 

Make sure they know that they are gorgeous. That they're everything to you. That they're an example of thousands of years of evolution and existence and growth. They mean the world. And if they're harming themselves like that, they're also selfish. 

I understand if their mother/father died, their family, and they're in a deep dark hole of sorrow. I understand if they have really bad anxiety and hate themselves. I understand if they're bullied every day of their lives but they're going to go through that no matter where they are and they can't just start slashing their skin because it hurts. I know they want to. But they can't. 

Tell them to take a moment to stop thinking about their pain and focus on the people who care about them right now. Not in the future, not in the past, but now; who are trying to help them because that's right, they love you. 

It's okay to think someone loves you because trust me, if they're trying this hard to get you to stop, they do. It's okay to think that. It's not a crime, it's life. 

And if they think no one cares about them, I'm always here, an unwilling ball of friendliness waiting to make new internet friends. I don't care if they're complete strangers, I'll be the greatest friend in the whole dang world to them whenever they need it.

Somebody cares about them, and girl or guy, you tell them that straight up until they're crying! It's not all going to happen in a blink of an eye, I'll be honest, it's something that definitely takes time but you're going to stick through it with them no matter what. You're going to support them through it all and you're going to tell them you care. And that's what they need to hear. That you care, okay? 

You're going to fix the broken pieces slowly, step by step, and you're not going to give up. Even if they push you away and call you names and tell you that you don't understand because you're going to tell them you do. You do understand their pain and you're willing to share it with them if it makes them heal. Because you care about them. 

I hope this helped in some way, and if it didn't I'm very sorry that I couldn't help. Please send the happiest of results to your friend and tell them that they're amazing!

Thank you!