The last time Rondi Sorensen cut herself was about year ago after she pushed her dad during an argument. She stormed across the street barefoot. She found an old can and sliced her wrists.

"It seems like that makes me stop crying," she said.

The police picked her up on the road a short time later. She spent three nights in jail and remains on probation for assault. The ugly scene proved to be a turning point in her life.

Rondi Sorensen said she has not cut herself since. She also said she is now drug free.

"Really, cutting yourself is a very selfish act. I believe you're really not thinking of the consequences later. But it's a very easy thing to fall back to. I have thought about it. I keep myself occupied. I tell myself it's not worth it."

She credits her turnaround to medication, cognitive behavior therapy, positive thinking, willpower and her pit bull Boomer. She rescued the dog from an abusive home, nurtured him to health and trained him. He senses her anxiety or anger and licks her face until she laughs. Boomer, she said, has helped her to learn to care about herself and that others care about her, too.

Rondi Sorensen, Kristin Hasna and Bruce Howell struggle at times but are making great strides toward better lives. They agreed to share their stories because they believe it will raise awareness about cutting and inspire others to seek help. All three take medications for their mental illnesses and have regular individual and group sessions with therapists or doctors. Hasna and Howell participate in Bridges, a support program sponsored by NAMI.

Hasna, who describes herself as a survivor, is training to become a discussion leader in the program. She has come a long way and now wants to reach out.

"When people find out someone has cancer, they all swarm around them. If someone finds out that you have a mental illness, they all stay away from you. It's just as much an illness as cancer. And people need to understand that. People treat you very unkindly," she said.

"I'm 40. I just want to be better. I want to heal."

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E-mail: romboy@desnews.com