text: why do peopl do that? altho i should know? i have been a cutter for a couple of years now, but i never done it to the point that i needed stiches or anything like that, only a couple of bandaids and i'm fine. but how can people do it so bad it almost removes their arm? self-injuring will escalate over time, because the longer you do it, the deeper you need to injure in order to get the same effects you did at first, when maybe a shallow cut or wound would be enough.  one girl i knew injured herself to the point where she had to get her entire arm stapled.  i don't know if you know much about medicine, but we do not usually staple a wound closed....usually it is sutured.  the last time she nearly severed her jugular (a very large and important vein in your neck).  she's just lucky she didn't hit the carotid artery.  she would've bled out if paramedics hadn't hauled her off to the hospital in time.  i'm not trying to scare you, i'm just telling you that it's the nature of the disease.  the longer you do it, the deeper you have to cut yourself to make it hurt.  if it doesn't hurt, you can't feel better.