It’s terrifying to think that teenagers have progressed from sneaking out of the house to actually inflicting pain on themselves to get attention or cope with some kind of emotional pain. It is happening, and it is becoming more and more of a problem.
What is cutting?
Cutting is when your child cuts themselves with a sharp object enough to break the skin and make it bleed. Cutting is more popular with girls, but is on the rise with boys, too. Cutting is a form of self-injury that is becoming almost a fad among teenagers and tweens alike.
Why?
While it’s hard to understand, experts are calling cutting an unhealthy coping mechanism. These kids have yet to find healthy ways to cope with their problems and have resorted to injuring themselves. While cutting is more prevalent with teenagers, younger kids are hearing about it and trying it out of shear curiosity.
Experts list the following signs to look for in cutting:
* Small, linear cuts typically on the forearm, upper arm and the legs. These cuts sometimes look like railroad tracks being carved into the skin.
* Unexplained cuts and scratches, especially when they become frequent.
* Mood changes, depression, anxiety, out of control behavior, changes in friendships and relationships and changes in school performance.
Other signs to look for:
* Wearing long sleeve shirts, even on the hottest days.
* Friends with cut marks, or that have known to cut themselves.
* If they become defensive when asked about cut marks.
* Scars on their arms or legs that have no explanation.
If you think your child has been cutting himself, you need to seek the opinion of a qualified doctor or therapist. You cannot write this off as a “phase”, because as self mutilation grows, it becomes more and more addicting.