1. Cut Away the Emotional Pain
Cutting, or self-injury, is when someone purposely inflicts harm to herself. The person usually cuts the wrists, legs, stomach or another location easily concealed by clothing. Anything sharp can serve as a tool--from knives, to nails, pins or scissors. The person usually seeks out solitude when cutting, locking herself in a bedroom or bathroom. People cut to feel better emotionally. While that probably sounds contradictory, people who cut do so because it provides a rush of endorphins to the body. Teen girls are the most likely to resort to cutting, but it can manifest in men and women of all ages and backgrounds.
2. Childhood Wounds
Cutting gives patients temporary relief from their feelings. People who cut are easily overwhelmed with life circumstances, and cutting quickly brings those feelings down to a level that they can manage, often making them feel calm. It's not unlike other harmful methods of coping such as alcohol or drug abuse. Feelings of emotional invalidation are common in people who cut. Typically, patients were taught at an early age that certain emotions shouldn't be expressed, or that they were somehow expressing them incorrectly. This sometimes, but not always, stems from an abusive home.
3. Not a Suicide Attempt
People often look at teenage cutting as a suicide attempt, or at the very least a cry for help. At times, cutting wrists does lead to an accidental teen suicide, merely because the person unintentionally cuts too deeply. But cutters often go to great lengths to hide their problem. Wearing long pants or long sleeved shirts when the weather is warm, or blaming visible scratches on other causes are common tactics.
4. Cutting is a Delicate Subject
Approaching someone you're concerned may be cutting is a delicate process. The person will most likely deny there's a problem. If it's a friend at school, you might want to discuss your concerns with a guidance counselor. If it is your child, a trusted family physician could offer help and resources for treatment. At least make yourself available and hope that the person feels comfortable enough to take a step towards sharing their struggle with you.
5. Healing is More Than Skin Deep
Cutting serves as physical proof of the emotional trauma someone is feeling on the inside. To stop cutting yourself, you must find another healthier way to get relief for overwhelming emotions. Prescription drugs, one-on-one psychiatric treatment with a counselor experienced in cutting behavior and group therapy help cutters learn to cope in non-injurious ways. In severe cases, intense therapy takes place in a psychiatric ward where there's constant monitoring. Relapse is possible after successful treatment, particularly if the patient stops taking mood-stabilizing drugs.
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