Self-harm or Self-injury is to cause intentional damage, mutilate or hurt to part of the body. It is a common behavior among teenagers. It can include or not include suicidal intentions. Some examples of self-harm include: cutting, picking, burning, punching walls or self, swallowing objects, poisoning with pills or abusing alcohol or drugs.

Here we will focus on adolescents that self-cut. Typically the cutting behavior is done alone. It is not an attention seeking behavior and does not include suicidal intentions.

Areas of the body that can be hidden or covered easily are used for self-cutting. The ankles, wrists, forearms and inner thighs are often used. Self-cutting is addictive and will continue for years if not noticed.

Why does my teen cut?

Reasons teens self-cut include:

 

What should I do if I discover my teen is cutting?

  • Make sure your teen is safe
  • Get medical help if needed
  • Do not over react
  • Avoid power struggles
  • Get treatment for your teen
  • Support treatment

 

Therapy is used to treat self-cutting. One of the goals in therapy is to teach the person that is self-harming healthy behaviors to replace the destructive behaviors they have been using to cope.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can help people recognize symptoms of anxiety, negative thinking patterns, learn coping skills, stress management and ways to change behavior.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is type of therapy that focuses on the concept of mindfulness, or being aware of and attentive to the current situation. DBT teaches skills to control and tolerate emotions, reduces self-destructive behaviors, and improves relationships. This therapy differs from CBT in that it seeks a balance between changing and accepting beliefs and behaviors.

Triumph Youth Services therapists are trained in CBT and DBT. They have been successful in treating teenage boys and young men with self-harming and self-injury behaviors, such as cutting.

Do not delay treatment. The sooner your teen learns appropriate coping skills and emotional regulation the better they will be.

Contact Triumph Youth Services today. They are available to help.

Reference
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-injury
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1781417/