Hurting from the Outside - In: The Rise of Self-harming
Ask any teacher or adolescent counselor what the most
disturbing trend they are seeing in teens today is, and they
are likely to tell you it's the growing number of "cutters". By cutters, they mean people who hurt themselves or
"self-injure" a term that is more encompassing of the many
types of behaviors that are actually involved. Whatever the
form of self-injury, cutting, burning, biting or any of many
other similar behaviors, teens hurting themselves in an
attempt to deal with emotional pain is on the rise. Today it is thought that 1% of youth in America are engaging
in self-harming behavior. And, while both males and females
are self-harming, girls are four times more likely to
self-harm than boys. This behavior, which has been around
forever, but was noted only rarely in the past, is running
through peer-groups like a infectious disease; striking fear
into the hearts of many parents. Parents often do not know
what to make the behavior in their children What causes a person to engage in self-harm is as varied as
the number of people hurting themselves. One cutter that
may express the sentiments of many put it this way," I
cannot adequately describe in words my emotional state prior
to a cutting. The feelings are overwhelming--usually severe
feelings of rejection, self-hatred or anger. Cutting
presents a way to make the pain show (and be felt) on the
*outside* where I can deal with it." Frequently, as this
person points out, self-harm is a coping strategy for
dealing with emotional pain that has become intolerable. Self-harm is not necessarily an attempt at suicide. Though
one study found that half of students who engage in the
behavior express thoughts of suicide, many professionals see
the behavior as a maladaptive coping skill used to keep the
person alive. Some would say that the longer the person
engages in self-harming acts the less likely that they are
attempts at suicide. Self-injury is nonetheless a dangerous
behavior and one that can lead to unintentional death. Identifying the person who is harming them self, may not
always be easy. Frequently, the person cuts on areas that
cannot be easily seen by others. They may wear long sleeve
shirts and pants to cover up the scars. Some
characteristics of people who are at risk for cutting
include: Low self-esteem extreme sensitivity to rejection high
levels of anger suppress emotions impulsive depressed
suffer chronic anxiety have been abused Many people who engage in self-harming do get better. There
are a handful of inpatient programs around the country and
an increasing number of therapists and programs treating
self-harm on an outpatient basis. If your child is hurting
her or himself, seek help. © 2005, David Westbrook David Westbrook is a freelance writer and the host of http://www.troubledteenresources.net/ a resource guide for parents.
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