They don't feel it? Doubtful, they are just vying for your sympathy. Anyway, on the offchance that they really don't feel it when they are doing it, do they feel it afterwords?

Most likely afterwards. And I can see how they wouldn't be able to feel it; deep wounds tend to go numb/not hurt. Like when I split my forehead open, didn't feel a thing. Paper/plastic cut? That crap stings!

Ah, good point! Anyway, if they feel the pain afterwards, is that still not a reminder they are alive??? (Incidentally, are your friends suicidal, or just depressed?)

Well, I suppose it's one of those "temporary out" situations. Kind of like getting drunk. Its fun while it lasts, but the hangover sucks.

And one of my friends is suicidal, while the others just do it when they get depressed/anxious.

Ah, well then, this only applies to the suicidal friend.

People who cut themselves have no self-respect IMO. It's very different from being depressed.

Now if you're both depressed AND have no self-respect, that's an explosive combination I guess.

Well, we need to draw a line, there is depressed, and there is depressed to the point of being suicidal. If you are the latter, and you are cutting yourself, You are reminding yourslef that you are not dead...even though you want to be. What's the sense in that.

There is no sense. If you're suicidal, you kill yourself period.

If you just want attention, there is a number of ways to get it... cutting yourself is one of the most stupid and self-disrespecting ones.

The act of cutting releases endorphins. Those endorphins then promote a state of calm or even euphoria. Depressed people who cut do it so stop being depressed for a while.

The ones that cut who are suicidal are either too scared to commit or are seeking attention.

Either way, I wouldn't recommend cutting for a myriad of reasons.

By inflicting physical pain, a depressed person is blotting out their emotional pain.