Inflicting Physical Pain to Relieve Emotional Agony “Cutting”—slicing into your own skin with a razor, knife, or other sharp object—is a common symptom among those diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (Selby & others, 2011; Zanarini & others, 2011). Why would someone intentionally inflict such painful injuries on herself? Singer Amy Winehouse once cut herself with a shard of glass while being interviewed by a Spin magazine reporter. She spoke openly about having cut herself since she was 9 years old. The physical pain of cutting, Winehouse said, helped ease her emotional pain. Winehouse died of acute alcohol poisoning at the age of 27.

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