Hailey’s life was spiraling out of control. Her parents were getting a divorce, and they were too consumed with their own problems to notice her loneliness and despair. The family split moved her to a new city and a new school with no friends. Her depression caused her to start cutting. When her mom found out how she was handling all the new changes, she was clueless about what to do.
Cutting is a form of intentional self-injury that includes scratching or cutting the skin using items such as razor blades, knives or any sharp instrument to alleviate suffering. It is estimated that one out of eight girls engage in some form of self-injury. Explanations for why teens cut include the feeling of being in control and a distraction from personal pain. However, it’s important to remember that each teen is different and may cut for different reasons. Do you have a teen who cuts?
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So what do you look for? Here are a few risk factors:
1) Has your teen lost a friend or family member? Does she have a low body image or low self-esteem? Does she have difficulty in expressing her feelings?
2) Is she wearing long sleeves even in warm weather?
3) Is she wearing thick wristbands that hide her marks?
4) Does she have unexplained marks or scars on her body?
5) Are there missing items like knives, scissors, safety pins and razors?
6) Is she spending long periods of time alone or withdrawing from others?
This is a difficult issue to handle, but Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28, NIV)
Seek Him as you begin to help your teen. It’s important to seek professional help. Professional counselors can help you identify the troubled areas in your teen’s life that would cause her to cut and help her get the treatment necessary to be free from cutting.
