~  CUTTING AND SELF INJURY ~     By Synthia Esther     Having to deal with the stress and  uncertanity from her parents divorce, Sandy began to cut herself as a way to release pent up sorrow and pain.  Her cheerleader girlfriend Natalie, did the same after her mother was killed in an automoblie accident caused  by a drunken driver.  They shared their dark secret in their many cutting rituals performed together.  One dark and dreary day Natalie cut herself for the last time...and died due to her habitual addiction to cutting and self injury.   You can read the story of her death  and find resource help concerning self-injury at:  WWW.SYNTHIAESTHER.COM  -  Under the Addiction subtab titled, "Pass The Razors Please."   The addiction to self injury is a battle for many, as they strive to deal with the world around them by invoking pain, thus exercising what they consider to be a form of control over their life and circumstances.  There is another way, as Jesus Christ offers healing, love, mercy and grace to a lost world in need.  He shed his blood on Calvary's cross so you don't have to!  He alone can heal you, breaking the bondage of addiction and self-injury, and replacing your pain with peace, joy and happiness.  One of my MySpace friends, Beth, share's her life's story, trials and triumphs, giving first hand perspective into the strongholds of cutting and self injury.  Now Beth lives her life all to the glory of God!   Beth writes, "Cutting: I used to feel so bad about myself that I would hurt myself. This happened in my early teen years. I would just feel helpless and like I had no voice. This was a form of punishment from myself to my body then. '* Wicca: I used to be pretty active in Wicca also. I used to use wicca as a way to keep people from hurting me. I used to want to make people stay out of my space. '* Eating Disorders: For nearly two years I stopped eating. I lived off of liquids. It was a terrible time in my life. Yes I did lose lbs, but I also lost a lot of other things during that time.  Losing lbs is not that important, you are more important. The person you are! You deserve much better!   You can visit  WWW.SYNTHIAESTHER.COM   to read about food addictions , anorexia, bulimia, and  obsessive weight control under the "Addiction" subtab for free resource help and information. '* I suffered with severe depression most of my teenage years. Sometimes the depression would leave me sleeping most of my life away. *Panic Attacks: I used to have lots of panic attacks. '* Suicide survivor: A little over 5 years ago I tried to take a fishing knife to my left wrist. I end up in the Hospital getting more than 20 stitches. Now I am excited to live and thank God everyday that I am alive! '* I was completely wrong! My life is so much better now. Yours can be too if you just try. Try to open up your heart and give yourself a chance.'"   You can read Beth's testimony and ministry of love by visiting her outreach MySpace page at:     HTTP://WWW.MYSPACE.COM/BETHDYESS                                  TO GOD BE THE GLORY!