Profile Of A Cutter: Causes,
Contacts,
Rx
By Tammy Ruggles, BSW, MA
The Taylors are foster parents who have to hide their razor blades and
other
sharp instruments in the house to prevent thirteen-year-old Melanie
from
hurting herself. Melanie’s therapist says that if she wants to cut
herself,
even the edge of a credit card will do.
Fourteen-year-old Wendy is in foster care. Her foster parents notice
hash
marks on the inside of her forearms and take her immediately to see her
mental
health counselor.
Sixteen-year-old Brandon picks at scabs on his arms that look like
cigarette
burns. When a teacher asks about them, he just shrugs and says they’re
nothing.
Fifteen-year-old Bonnie has carved her boyfriend’s initials into her
breast,
shoulders, and thighs.
Some call it self-mutilation, some call it self-injury, still others
call
it deliberate self-harm.
This article offers a brief examination of who the self-mutilator is,
why
they hurt themselves, and some solutions to the problem.
PROFILE:
It isn’t a subject we like to think about, but the fact is, 1 in 200
girls
between the ages of 13 and 19 hurt, burn, or otherwise physically
damage
themselves on a regular basis. About 20,000 boys a year do too. There
are
approximately 2 million known cases in the United States. Our teens are
keenly
aware of this practice. Actors like Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie have
publicly
admitted their experiences with self-injury. Musical artists
like Papa Roach and Nine Inch Nails sing lyrics about it.
It is not the same as a suicide attempt, and it isn’t the same as body
piercing
or tattooing.
Self-mutilators are usually female, but not always. It isn’t uncommon
to
find a self-mutilator who also has an eating disorder (again, where
control
is the central issue).
Most cutters operate in shame and secrecy. Others want to be noticed so
that
intervention can take place.
CAUSES:
Understanding why is the first step in prevention and treatment.
Some cutters have a history of sexual abuse, while others do not. Other
family
issues like divorce, alcoholism, emotional neglect/abandonment, and
death
of a parent are factors too.
Most usually hurt themselves in reaction to overwhelming stress and
other
powerful emotions, such as anger, shame, and helplessness. It isn’t
unusual
to find that self-mutilators are perfectionists, good students, and
often
have mood swings. Some want to punish themselves for their
"imperfections".
Negative body image and low self-esteem also play a part. Almost all
have
difficulty expressing their true emotions.
Oddly, the cutting is a release of these feelings. An escape. And
provides
a feeling of being in control of uncontrollable emotions. It can also
be
a form of affirmation, for some cutters feel depressed and numb inside,
and
the only way to feel anything is to feel the cut, see the blood,
experience
the euphoric “high” afterward.
But the relief is only temporary. The cutter usually finds himself or
herself
doing it again, as stressful situations arise.
It’s a coping mechanism that leads to an endless, irresistible cycle of
tension,
cutting, and release.
There are degrees of cutting. Some cuts are superficial or “light”,
while
other cuts are deep, drawing blood. Head-banging, hair-pulling, biting,
and
eyeball pressing are also methods of self-injury. Some want their
wounds
to be noticed. Others hide them under long sleeves or pants. Some cut
to
experience the pain. Others cut for the release of blood.
Regardless of the degree, it is the release they seek.
Granted, some depressed teenagers will cut for the attention, but this
is
usually a cry for help.
CONTACTS:
If you know a teenager who cuts, or suspect that one is, or just want
more
material on the subject, here is some contact information:
Phone:
SAFE
Alternatives® (Self-Abuse Finally Ends) is a nationally recognized
treatment approach, professional network and educational resource base,
which is committed to helping you and others achieve an end to
self-injurious behavior. The program was founded and is run at Linden
Oaks Hospital in Naperville, Illinois by Karen Conterio and Wendy
Lader, Ph.D.
Books:
The Scarred Soul: Understanding and Ending Self-Inflicted Violence,
Tracy
Alderman, Ph.D. 1997.
If you’re a teenager who self-mutilates, get help now. The problem is
not
likely to go away by itself. You have deep issues that need
professional
attention. Sometimes therapy alone will help, sometimes medication is
prescribed,
and sometimes hospitalization is necessary.
Therapy usually involves identifying the problem, exploring the cause,
and
replacing the injuring behavior with positive behaviors.
IMMEDIATE Rx
Until you get professional help, here are ten on-the-spot exercises you
can
do when you feel the urge to cut:
1. Call a friend.
2. Do some deep breathing.
3. Use some relaxation, Yoga, or meditation techniques.
4. Use guided imagery to help you imagine yourself in a calmer, safer
place.
5. Distract yourself with music, TV, going for a walk, being with your
pet.
6. Write your feelings in a diary.
7. Squeeze ice cubes in your hands until the urge to cut or hurt goes
away.
8. Take a hot bath, but don’t scald yourself. This may temporarily
relieve
your temptation to cut.
9. Instead of cutting your skin, draw red lines on it.
10. Hit or scream into a pillow.
E-mail: Tammylruggles@kih.net
Website: http://www.geocities.com/teeruggles/tammyfreelance.html
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