Dallas Self-Harm Counselor | Counseling Tips to Identify Cutting & 8 Do’s & Don’ts with Self-Injury for Parents Video CBS News 6
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“It’s exciting, thrilling, and even self-gratifying?” Could this be the reason teens are mutilating their bodies at an alarming rate? Or could it be a more serious mental health issue at the core of this abnormal conduct? Has cutting behaviors with celebrities influenced youth to self-mutiltate as another way to cope? Because we are a media driven culture. Although cutting is not glamorous it’s drawing a lot of views online and may make it easier for other teens to engage in self harm.
Courtney Love, Angelina Jolie, and even Princess Diana admitted to cutting and self-harm activities. Now, Disney superstar Demi Lovato admitted that she, too, is challenged with issues that involve cutting. With beauty, brains, and fame, why would these superstars engage in self-mutilating activity? The answer: Negative feelings about oneself, stress, and anxiety. Princess Diana once said, “You have so much pain inside yourself that you try and hurt yourself on the outside because you want help.”
Discover Health and Medical Health America reports suggest that within the last ten years, over 2 million people have engaged in self-injury. This is an alarming statistic that appears to be gradually increasing with a “series” of You Tube videos that draws attention to self-mutilation. Even though each cutting case presents differently, the same core issues remain consistent: rejection, abuse, stress, social pressure, and life problems. When cutting becomes a form of coping with internal conflict, it is important to understand that suicide is not the ultimate goal. Cutting, self-harm, and self-mutilation are known as Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI), which is the act of intentionally causing damage of body tissue. Self-Mutilation is completely unrelated to body art that include tattooing and piercing. In addition, these acts are not purposed to cause death.
What is Cutting?
Cutting is the act of injuring oneself using a sharp object to cut, scratch, or puncture the skin and body tissue deep enough to cause bleeding. This self-injury or self-mutilation behavior is mostly seen in girls between the ages of 13 and 19.
Why do Teen Girls Cut?
Lack of coping skills, To release negative feelings or thoughts, Depression, Anxiety, Anger, Self-criticism, To establish control in their lives, To punish themselves for feeling worthless, and/or To escape internal conflict for a moment.
What are the Signs?
Self inflicted damage occurs for 5 or more days
Look for arm bands that look like an accessory, but are there to cover the scabs or scars.
Injuries induce bleeding, bruising, or pain
Cutting, burning, stabbing, hitting, excessive rubbing
Injuries are not social (tattooing and body piercing)
There is no suicidal intent
8 Do’s & Don’ts with Self-Injury — What can parents do?