spacer gif

New Parents And Teens Child Parenting
Good Parents and Kids Parenting Tips

Home      

Baby Names Meanings

Top 100 baby names

American Baby Boy Names

gre

This Parental Control Software Shows You Everything Your Child Does Online When You're Not There.

With an estimated One MILLION pedophiles online, you need parental controls to protect your children from child molesters and sexual predators. Click For More Info

spacer gif

The baby sleep solution | Baby shower games | Secret to baby modeling success | Baby sign language | Planning baby showers | Baby boy names |


spacer gif


Share |


You are free to use content from this page in your blog or website, in return for a link back to this page from that blog or website.



Hurting from the Outside - In: The Rise of Self-harming


Ask any teacher or adolescent counselor what the most disturbing trend they are seeing in teens today is, and they are likely to tell you it's the growing number of "cutters".

By cutters, they mean people who hurt themselves or "self-injure" a term that is more encompassing of the many types of behaviors that are actually involved. Whatever the form of self-injury, cutting, burning, biting or any of many other similar behaviors, teens hurting themselves in an attempt to deal with emotional pain is on the rise.

Today it is thought that 1% of youth in America are engaging in self-harming behavior. And, while both males and females are self-harming, girls are four times more likely to self-harm than boys. This behavior, which has been around forever, but was noted only rarely in the past, is running through peer-groups like a infectious disease; striking fear into the hearts of many parents. Parents often do not know what to make the behavior in their children

What causes a person to engage in self-harm is as varied as the number of people hurting themselves. One cutter that may express the sentiments of many put it this way," I cannot adequately describe in words my emotional state prior to a cutting. The feelings are overwhelming--usually severe feelings of rejection, self-hatred or anger. Cutting presents a way to make the pain show (and be felt) on the *outside* where I can deal with it." Frequently, as this person points out, self-harm is a coping strategy for dealing with emotional pain that has become intolerable.

Self-harm is not necessarily an attempt at suicide. Though one study found that half of students who engage in the behavior express thoughts of suicide, many professionals see the behavior as a maladaptive coping skill used to keep the person alive. Some would say that the longer the person engages in self-harming acts the less likely that they are attempts at suicide. Self-injury is nonetheless a dangerous behavior and one that can lead to unintentional death.

Identifying the person who is harming them self, may not always be easy. Frequently, the person cuts on areas that cannot be easily seen by others. They may wear long sleeve shirts and pants to cover up the scars. Some characteristics of people who are at risk for cutting include:

Low self-esteem extreme sensitivity to rejection high levels of anger suppress emotions impulsive depressed suffer chronic anxiety have been abused

Many people who engage in self-harming do get better. There are a handful of inpatient programs around the country and an increasing number of therapists and programs treating self-harm on an outpatient basis. If your child is hurting her or himself, seek help.

2005, David Westbrook

David Westbrook is a freelance writer and the host of http://www.troubledteenresources.net/ a resource guide for parents.



PACKARD PT021 ADJUSTABLE FAN CONTROL SWITCH SPST CLOSE ON RISE 90-130F 39205
$8.95
End Date: Saturday Feb-25-2012 9:03:50 PST
Buy It Now for only: $8.95
Buy It Now | Add to watch list

Beautiful Glass & Metal Plate Will Help Your Cake Rise! Wonderful Vintage Finish
$0.99 (0 Bids)
End Date: Thursday Feb-9-2012 4:29:04 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list

I'll Rise But I refuse to Shine Coffee TRAVEL MUG
$8.99 (0 Bids)
End Date: Thursday Feb-9-2012 7:27:17 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list

PREMIER OIL RUBBED BRONZE KITCHEN HIGH RISE SPOUT BRIDGE FAUCET W/ SIDE SPRAY
$149.99
End Date: Saturday Feb-18-2012 9:16:05 PST
Buy It Now for only: $149.99
Buy It Now | Add to watch list

**SUN LIGHT SUN RISE THERAPY BIOBRITE SUNRISE ALARM CLOCK CHARCOAL
$99.00 (0 Bids)
End Date: Thursday Feb-9-2012 7:30:40 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list

Colored Glass Irish Imprinted Stones
$2.50
End Date: Wednesday Feb-29-2012 8:44:23 PST
Buy It Now for only: $2.50
Buy It Now | Add to watch list

Simmons Beautyrest 17" Sky Rise Raise Airbed - TWIN SIZE
$9.99 (1 Bid)
End Date: Thursday Feb-9-2012 11:33:13 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list

Simmons Beautyrest 17" Sky Rise Raise Airbed - TWIN SIZE
$9.99 (1 Bid)
End Date: Thursday Feb-9-2012 12:34:06 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list

Intex Mid-Rise Queen Airbed Air Mattress Bed with Pump
$45.99
End Date: Monday Mar-5-2012 13:44:26 PST
Buy It Now for only: $45.99
Buy It Now | Add to watch list

Simmons Beautyrest 19" Queen Sky Rise Raised Pillow Bed
$9.99 (0 Bids)
End Date: Thursday Feb-9-2012 12:37:16 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list

spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif
home | Parenting site map | Privacy policy
Copyright © 2011 parenting.babyinfocenter.com