Green’s Dictionary of Slang

to depress, to perturb.

1826		Inverness Courier 20 Dec. 4/1: His heart so heavy got — / [...] / So round his melancholy neck / A rope he did entwine. / [...] / And there he hung, till he was dead / [...] / For though distress had cut him up, it could not cut him down.
1832		Egan Bk of Sports 8: My lord, you must excuse me: I cannot go on any firder, it cuts me up so.
1876		Besant & Rice Son of a Vulcan I 189: Them Reformatories cuts me up dreadful.
1906		Marvel 13 Oct. 334: I can take it all right, but it cuts Andrew up, he feels it.
1939		J. Weidman What’s In It For Me? 33: I’m just all cut up inside with gratitude.
1964		A. Baraka Slave in Three Negro Plays (1969) Act I: No, I’m not lying ... and I guess that’s what’s cutting you up.