As the name suggests, "cutting" involves cutting, scratching, piercing, etc. the skin to the point of bleeding. Individuals who cut themselves often feel intense shame about it.  It is often done repetitively; at times, to the point where some people describe the urge to cut as “addictive.”  Most frequently individuals cut parts of the body that are not typically exposed. It is important to understand that the vast majority of people who “cut” are not suicidal. Rather, they use it as a coping skill to relieve the intense emotional pressure/pain they are feeling. The relief occurs because these individuals feel a surge of adrenaline after they cut which numbs their emotional pain and shifts their focus elsewhere.  While often done as a solitary activity when under stress, cutting also occurs in groups (particularly among adolescent/young adult women).