Cutting - a Growing Trend Among Teenage Girls

I am noticing a growing trend among young females that I am sure is noticed by others. This trend, I hate using that word by the way, is "cutting". This cutting, also known as self-harm, self-injury, and self-mutilation, is something that needs to be addressed not only in the home but in the schools as well. The most popular form of self-injury among these teens seems to be "cutting" with razors, knives, safety pins or other sharp objects. There are also other forms of self-injury that as well; bruising, burning, hair-pulling, wound healing interference, and too the most extreme side, bone breaking.

I spoke to this 12 year old girl the other day about her cutting and why she does it. She said that she does when she is hurting inside and that it make her feel better. She also said that she does not feel the pain when she cuts herself. This is a major risk because not feeling anything could mean that she could go to deep and could possibly die. I think when I told her that she got scared. Also she reuses the same instrument over and over without cleaning it; this could lead to some serious infections. When I asked her where she learned this behavior the answer was; "from watching a friend do it".

A few signs that someone you know maybe harming themselves are: wearing long sleeves all the time, refusal to wear shorts, and an excuse for all of those "accidents". If you do find out that they are indeed hurting themselves please offer some help. A great way to help is to offer some alternative things to do when they feel like cutting. For example, they can snap their wrists with rubber bands, scream into a pillow, beat their bead with a pillow, go for a run, blare some music, dance, write in a journal, and so many other things; get creative.

There is a great need for an intervention in both the homes and the schools. There are many great sites on the internet that offer information about "cutting". Some sites are www.palace.net , www.self-injury.net , www.selfinjury.com , and www.selfinjury.org . Also a great hotline to give out is 1-800-DON'T-CUT. So there are many resources out there for both the "cutters" and the people who are willing to help them. Self Injury Awareness Day is March 1^st and there are always events going on, you just have to find them or you can start your own; the websites above are a great place to start.