Please Help. My Daughter Is A Cutter
Dear Dr. LeCrone:
My husband and I recently found out that our daughter has been injuring herself by cutting her skin with a razor blade, and she has been hiding the injuries by wearing long sleeves.
Please give us information to help her and us with this problem.
— Heartsick Parent
Dear Reader:
Self-abuse, self-mutilation and self-injury are sometimes referred to as the “new age anorexia.” These self-destructive and often mutilating behaviors has been estimated as high as 1,800 out if 100,000 adolescents, mainly girls. Young males and adults can also exhibit self-abuse.
A common example of self-mutilating behavior is cutting the skin with a knife or razor blade until pain is felt and/or blood has been drawn. Other examples are burning the skin with metal or a lighted cigarette or picking the skin. Self-abusers often hide the signs of abuse with clothing or fabricate stories to explain the signs of abuse.
Many people practicing self-injurious behavior report doing so in an attempt to relieve stress, pain and escape from fear or anxiety. Self-abusers who cut themselves are sometimes referred to as “cutters.” Cutting sometimes has a contagious component, with group cutting occurring in settings such as prisons and in school settings. Cutting also often co-exists with other problems such as eating disorders, substance-abuse and borderline personality disorder. Self-injurers are not usually planning suicide. However, tragedies, including serious medical complications or death, can and do occur.
Many reasons have been proposed to explain why people practice self-abusive behaviors. Biological, psychological and social explanations have all been proposed as reasons to explain self-mutilation. Like many problematic behaviors where the perceived need for control exists, self-mutilation and self-injurious behavior serves to express, validate or regulate emotional problems such as depression, tension, pain or anger.
Many treatment strategies are available and successful in treating self injurious behavior.
• Medication can be helpful in treating symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress which often accompany this behavior.
• Individual and group psychotherapy are often useful in helping individuals explore alternatives to self-mutilation.
• Family therapy and support groups can be of assistance for both the self- injurer and their families.
Cutters and other self-injurers often hide their behavior from those around them and make intervention difficult at times. Now that you know that your child is practicing self-injurious behavior seek counseling immediately and please don’t expect a quick solution to this difficult problem.
