Teenage Self-Injury

[HelloHockeyFans]

This story reminded me of a time when I dated this girl. She seemed perfectly normal, was university educated, and held a good job. It was about 3 weeks into the relationship when I first noticed that her forearm was scarred with cut marks... letters and words. Could barely see it... perhaps it wasn't very deep when she first did it, or she got some sort of procedure to hide it after the fact. I asked her about it and she was obviously uncomfortable discussing it and replied quickly with, "yeah, stupid stuff when I was young". Didn't bring it up again and to be honest, she didn't fit my stereotype of what a person who would hurt themself might be like.

Apparently, from the story linked, 46% of U.S. highschool students have self-mutilated before. I find this quite shocking.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl.../lifeMain/home

Latoya had no intention of harming her boyfriend when she reached for the kitchen knife while in the throes of an argument with him four days ago.

Instead, she calmly dragged the serrated edge across the fleshy underside of her left forearm, as she has done for years when the stress of the moment becomes too much for her to bear.

Then she did it again, and again, until the skin broke and blood bubbled to the surface.

According to a study published in the August issue of the journal Psychological Medicine, 46 per cent of U.S. high school students surveyed had practised some form of self-mutilation in the past year, ranging from cutting and burning to pulling out hair and hitting themselves.

[SaskaBushFire]

I hate emos.

[HelloHockeyFans]

Originally Posted by SaskaBushFire

I hate emos.

See, that was my original stereotype as well, but the example I gave of the ex-girlfriend was anything but an "emo". Extroverted, full of energy and very confident.

The article suggests that perhaps hurting oneself is more common than we think.

[jam26]

I found out my cousin was a 'cutter' through his facebook page. He wrote that he would cut himself in the groin so he would feel the pain every time he moved. Pretty crazy stuff.

[wooohooo]

Oh my gosh... WHY!???

[lifer]

Originally Posted by SaskaBushFire

I hate emos.

That is a stereotype. Sure some of them do it, but 46% of US high schoolers are not "emos".

[mac_gurl]

My BF's sister used to cut herself bad all the time, and even ended up in the hospital because of it.

She was anything but the "emo" type.

I think its a serious problem.

[REDVAN]

I know it may be a serious problem, but the article says 46% have done mutilation, and they are including hitting in that. So, if you do something stupid and you hit your head, like "duh" does that count?

And cutting yourself is weird. Anyone on CP want to admit they have cut themselves to feel pain?

[RedHot25]

Ok I feel silly for asking this - and somewhat old, even though I guess I'm not really - but what's emo? Just a real basic and quick definition, please.

And self-mutilation, cutting etc is, like the article says, quite common - from prep kids, to alternative, to those on the street, to....

[Schultzie]

Originally Posted by wooohooo

Oh my gosh... WHY!???

Because, generally speaking, people are idiots.

[llama64]

I've heard cutting as a method of gaining attention for children who lack a high level of self esteam. Either as a form of rebellion, or as a real way to get attention to their problems.

Either way, it's disturbing to think that nearly half of US children preform this act on themselves.

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by Schultzie

Because, generally speaking, people are idiots.

Well, there could be some things going on that not everyone knows about - e.g. family stuff, psychological issues, abuse, as a form of expression, etc etc...you name it.

And no, I have not self-mutilated. But I have observed it in various work I have done.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by RedHot25

Ok I feel silly for asking this - and somewhat old, even though I guess I'm not really - but what's emo? Just a real basic and quick definition, please.

Emo (pronounced /ˈiːmoʊ/) is a somewhat ambiguous slang term most frequently used to describe a fashion or subculture linked to post-hardcore[1] and attitude. fashion and its subculture. The slang term emo is best known for referring to fashion styleEmo may describe this fashion or emo music, or a general emotional state (as in to "feel emo"). It is also, sometimes pejoratively, used to identify someone fitting a particular emo stereotype or category.

'Emo' as a term is now sometimes used in a negative and/or derogatory fashion, and the term's definition is the subject of debate. Emo is now often used to refer to a person's emotion or personality, sometimes both, as well as the musical category.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emo_(slang)

[J pold]

I hate the use of the word Emo, its useless at a time it was a stereotype for a certain group of people but now middle age housewives have got a hold of if and killed it, its like bling bling…just let it die

[The Goon]

Kids these days...in my time we would just yell at our parents, slam the door to our bedroom, and put the Cure on our record players.

[Schultzie]

Originally Posted by RedHot25

Well, there could be some things going on that not everyone knows about - e.g. family stuff, psychological issues, abuse, as a form of expression, etc etc...you name it.

And no, I have not self-mutilated. But I have observed it in various work I have done.

That's true, but even then...what good is causing yourself bodily harm going to do? Wouldn't it make more sense to talk to someone about it, go see a psychologist/doctor, etc? That's what I don't quite understand.

Cutting yourself won't do anything for you. I don't know why anyone would even think about it in the first place.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

I know it may be a serious problem, but the article says 46% have done mutilation, and they are including hitting in that. So, if you do something stupid and you hit your head, like "duh" does that count?

Yeah that's exactly what I thought. That number seems pretty high to me as well. The difference between self mutilating yourself with a blade on your forearm and giving yourself a tap on the head because you made a mistake is a pretty big one. I wonder if the question was misleading or if the newspaper is stretching that result a bit.

[RedHot25]

Thanks for the definition, Burninator. I must say I don't really have any respect for the word or its use. Seems pretty full of stereotypes etc.

I'm sure some purported "emo kids" do cut, but then like I said earlier, a lot of rich preppy kids do as well. As do your average joe and janes.

Originally Posted by Schultzie

That's true, but even then...what good is causing yourself bodily harm going to do? Wouldn't it make more sense to talk to someone about it, go see a psychologist/doctor, etc? That's what I don't quite understand.

Cutting yourself won't do anything for you. I don't know why anyone would even think about it in the first place.

I think for some it is desparation - they have tried to reach out, have gotten nowhere, and feel that no one is listening. This is a way to get the attention that they need. A lot of people are also ashamed/embarrassed/feel stupid/feel it makes them "weak" to go and see someone or ask for help. so that factors into it. Psychological reasons as well. Someone could be conceivably "preventing" them (think in cases of abuse). There could be any number of factors in someone not just asking for help.

Originally Posted by Burninator

Yeah that's exactly what I thought. That number seems pretty high to me as well. The difference between self mutilating yourself with a blade on your forearm and giving yourself a tap on the head because you made a mistake is a pretty big one. I wonder if the question was misleading or if the newspaper is stretching that result a bit.

Hmm, perhaps....but I don't think it would be that far off.

[CMPunk]

*shrug* I've done it. I even have the scars on my arm to prove it. It's a way to feel physical pain when you're in high stress/ highly emotional times. Makes thing feel more "real" I guess

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by Schultzie

Because, generally speaking, people are idiots.

Yes, we do it because we're stupid. Hit the nail on the head there.[/sarcasm]

I did this type of stuff through high school and there are a few reasons kids will do it. The big one is attention. A lot of the people around me who did it came from families with multiple siblings, or a family that had recently gone through some major turmoil. It was a cry for help because they didn't see any other way to get it. Since it was frowned upon by peers to see a counselor or a psychiatrist, a lot of kids avoided that and turned to something else. Call it some quiet screaming for attention.

Some kids genuinely are suicidal for one reason or another and some just have some really big issues that they just can't express any other way. The big difference between these kids and the ones who are seeking attention is these kids are incredibly ashamed about what they do and try to hide it. Some would go to school with fake casts or tensor bandages wrapped around their arm.

Really all most of these kids need is someone to listen to them. Whether they are flaunting it or not, this is always a cry for help. In recent years schools have finally started to try and get help out to these kids, but for a long time they just ignored it. Take that from someone who has experienced the school systems way of dealing with "cutters"