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Self Injury
Among Teens This basic information is culled from national studies and interviews with local therapists. Please remember, this is a general outline. For specific concerns and questions, please talk directly with a trained counselor, therapist or family physician. Hitting, biting, pulling out hair, cutting, burning – does the list sound like the work of bullies? Actually, these are all forms of self-injury, also known as self-abuse or self-mutilation. It may seem inconceivable that people would intentionally cause themselves pain – not just once, but over and over again. Yet, this behavior has been going on for years, even though it is not very common. Lately, more people are talking about it, and counselors around the area are receiving more referrals for young people involved in self-injury. Since cutting is the most prominent form of self-abuse, ‘cutter’ is used here as an umbrella term for all kinds of self-harm. They are referred to here as females, because girls and young women are most likely to hurt themselves, although boys and young men may also become involved with this harmful behavior. There are a number of reasons older kids and teens may begin cutting themselves. Roberta Bennett, MA, CDCT, a Prevention Counselor and individual/family therapist with Prairie View Prevention Services, explains that many cutters find causing physical pain helps sooth the pain they feel inside. They haven’t yet developed proper ways to cope with extreme emotions or feelings. Laura Schuldt, MA, LPC, a therapist at Avera McKennan, adds that many cutters are attempting to communicate feelings for which they don’t have the words. Cutting could also be a form of self-punishment and a means of asking for help.
Bay Therapy, in the San
Francisco area, found many teens resort to self-abuse to: Self-abusive behavior is most often a troubled response to other issues – it is a problem but not necessarily the problem. After all, not everyone who struggles with strong emotions seeks relief in self-harm. People who do appear to have higher rates of the following psychological problems1,2,3
Also, many studies4,5, have found that those who engage in self-harm report unusually high rates of histories of:
Schuldt points out that cutting may also be related to other risky behavior, like reckless driving, shoplifting and drug/alcohol use. The vast majority of cutters, or anyone involved in another form of self-injury, do not attempt suicide. But, Bennett warns, there are other dangers associated with this behavior. Infection is the greatest risk; cutters will often use anything they can, from staples to rusty razorblades to broken glass, in their search for release through cutting. Bennett adds that blood loss, the need for stitches and lifelong scarring are also concerns. This may all seem overwhelming as well as frightening. But the most important thing to remember is: There is hope.
The first
step in helping a cutter is to recognize some of the signs common among
self-abusers:
Many of
these behaviors are also associated with depression, drug use and other problems
young people may be dealing with. Don’t jump to any conclusions. First, both
Bennett and Schuldt recommend, take time for a calm conversation with the
person. Open it up by simply asking how things are going overall, and finding
out if there is any way you can help.
Dealing with
self-abusive behavior and the underlying problems will take time, patience and
empathy. Throughout the process, family and friends need to: |
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Prairie View Prevention Services, Inc.
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