Cutting
Cutting has become a big concern for those of us with teenagers. And cutting doesn’t mean not attending classes...it means cutting one’s own skin. The kids that are doing it have unhealthy coping mechanisms. They have strong emotions and they don’t know how to deal with them. Cutting is an impulsive act to regulate a mood that is out of control. It is used as a form of self-mutilation, just like burning the skin with the end of a cigarette or with a lighter. It is a child’s way of trying to relieve the emotional pain within them. Dr. Favazzo of the University of Missouri feels it is the opposite of suicide, as these kids want to live. They are calling out for help.
What is the definition of cutting?
Cutting is the act of injuring oneself by making cuts or scratches on the skin, usually on the arms, legs, thighs or stomach, using a sharp object. The skin isn’t always broken but often is.
Signs to look for:
If your child is wearing long-sleeved shirts during a warm season, they may be covering up marks made by sharp objects.
If your child says that they have been scratched by a cat or other animal and this continues to happen, they may be cutting.
Your child becomes overly secretive.
You find tissues with blood stains on them in a wastepaper basket or stains on towels or items of clothing when you’re doing the laundry.
Why do children cut?
Kids cut when they have a high level of tension and they don’t have adequate communication skills to enable them talk about their issues. Cutting somehow refocuses or relieves the emotional pain and tension. These children may have had a traumatic experience in their life or they may have mental health problems. Cutting sometimes seems to numb their emotions. It can be triggered by anger, depression or frustration. Kids that cut often have mental health issues such as depression, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, eating disorders, obsessive thinking or compulsive behaviors.
Concerns about cutting:
If a child makes too deep a cut, he or she can lose too much blood and require medical treatment.
A child can get an infection if he or she cuts with something that is not sterile.
Cutting can become an addiction.
Cutting can lead to drug and alcohol abuse because of its addicting power.
What should parents do if they know their child is cutting?
A child won’t listen if you simply tell her to stop cutting. It truly doesn’t help a child if you reject him, lecture her, or beg him to stop. It is important to show your child that you care and that she deserves to be healthy and happy. Find a therapist that your child can relate well to. You may have to interview a few before you find the right match. It is important to identify the underlying issue that is causing the cutting, whether it is a traumatic incident or a mental health issue.
