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Question

my daughter had told me last night that she has been cutting herself with knives. She just turned 13 and she has done it 2-3 times in a months time, as far as I know. There's about 4 other kids that she's friends with that cut themselves, supposedly. I'm reading up on articles and self help and I don't know what to do. I asked her if she would like to see a counselor and she is up to that.
She did it when she was mad at her best (boy) friend and last night she almost did it when she came in to ask me if she could skip school the next day (today) because her 2 best friends are mad at her.
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Submitted: 987 days and 12 hours ago.
Category: Health
Value: $9
Status: CLOSED

Accepted Answer

Hello my friend,

I understand your concern and I will do everything I can to help you. Cutting among teens is rapidly becoming more and more of a problem and is now being called the new anorexia. Kids are cutting to get attention and lash out along with using it as a coping mechanism to deal with the stress of their daily lives. They often adopt this behavior from other friends and it becomes something that can progressively get worse. Tell your daughter that you want to help her and that your doing this because you love her and that your not judging her over this. Typically an understanding approach works much better with this than a hard core discipline approach such as lashing out on them or locking in them in their rooms etc. She needs understanding, but she also beens professional help right away. You can contact the Self Abuse Finally Ends (SAFE) hot line at 1-800-DONT-CUT. (1-800-366-8288)

The peer pressure and pressure that society puts on our children these days is enormous and even if a child grows up in a good home with good parents this can still happen. It is often a silent problem and parents don't typically know about it until the problem has progressed to a dangerous point. It is good that you know now so that you can do something about it. Cutting is a desperate cry for help and she may be carrying around a lot of pain. I realize that this can be hard for the whole family, and I am here for you anytime.

more helpful information

http://www.selfinjury.com/

http://www.selfharm.net/

http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/cutting.html

http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/self_injury/healingtouch/index.html

I hope this helps. Please click on accept otherwise please request more information. I am always here for you.

Take care

Sarah :)



Edited by Sarah Rachel on 3/12/2007 at 10:34 AM

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Expert: Sarah Rachel
Pos. Feedback: 98.9 %
Accepts: 
Answered: 3/12/2007

Nutriti&onal C&onsultant / Herbalist

Nutritional Consultant, Herbalist, Natural Health Advocate, Studying to be a Holistic Practitioner

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