Meya
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posted on April 3, 2001 06:01:20 PM new
Has anyone here had any experience with someone who self-abuses, or practices "cutting"?
I found out that a family friend's daugher, 13 years old, has done this to herself a couple of times. From what I understand, she is talking a bit to her parents.
The family is looking for information, counseling services, support groups, online resources etc.
I've only heard of this through a TV show, but it certainly is frightening.
Anyone?
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Zazzie
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posted on April 3, 2001 06:03:26 PM new
I remember reading a novel in High School many moons ago
"I Never Promised You a Rose Garden"
The main character did that to herself---her case most likely more extreme than your friend's daughter
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spazmodeus
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posted on April 3, 2001 06:09:35 PM new
This was the subject of a Lifetime Movie. I think it starred Rhea Perlman.
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gravid
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posted on April 3, 2001 06:14:24 PM new
http://www.palace.net/~llama/psych/injury.html
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doxdogy
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posted on April 3, 2001 06:14:31 PM new
Zazzie I read the same book many moons ago. Another one was Lisa Bright and Dark. Yes, self abuse/cutting can be a sign of something wrong. I would do a forum search and go from there. Also, have them contact the Mental Health Agency in their area. They will be able to point them in the right direction.
Theresa
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VeryModern
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posted on April 3, 2001 06:15:40 PM new
Yeah, I have a pretty good understanding of it.
It is indicative of a serious problem and the girl should get professional help. If the parents deny, hope it "passes" they will see this escalate.
Underlying problem may be emotional, and may also be organic.
Get professional help!
VeryModern Space Junk
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spazmodeus
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posted on April 3, 2001 06:31:02 PM new
My general understanding of the psychology behind the behavior is that the subject can't control stressful factors in his/her environment, so they resort to self-mutilation because their own physical pain is something they can control. They come to depend on it as their only outlet to exert control in their lives.
[ edited by spazmodeus on Apr 3, 2001 06:32 PM ]
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VeryModern
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posted on April 3, 2001 06:33:40 PM new
It is also a way to control people around them, and some cases cause is organic and due to delusions.
VeryModern Space Junk
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mrssantaclaus
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posted on April 3, 2001 07:37:45 PM new
A friend of mine just slit her wrists - and potentially lost the use of her middle finger on that hand. All in all, I think it was a cry for attention. I don't think she realized how much damage she could cause.
But, her arms look like railroad tracks from another attempt.
All in all, I have decided to be her friend - but I cannot take on her problems. That is something for a professional.
Sad, but true.
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pratt9999
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posted on April 3, 2001 07:56:16 PM new
Meya~
Yes! Had a friend that did this growing up as a result of molestation. I believe the above posts are on the $ that it is stressful factors in their lives that create this behavior. Just what that factor is can vary...
I think getting them to admit and confront the situation is the way to go but it can be a very long healing process.
Good luck!!
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odious
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posted on April 3, 2001 10:48:43 PM new
Everyone is different so I would assume there would be different reasons for the behavior.
Emotional pain is so overwhelming that physical pain is a welcome deterant, something to focus on instead. It isn't done with the intent of harming oneself there are much better ways to do that. It gives the pain an outlet so to speak, a way out, a voice. Some visible sign that, HEY I'm dying over here!
My personal opinion is find out the cause of the pain and fix that. The behavior will go away on it's own in most cases.
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spazmodeus
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posted on April 3, 2001 11:16:45 PM new
Don't know how or even if this is related, but it's a fact that some animals will mutilate themselves if placed in situations they find unpleasant or threatening, whether due to inappropriate environment or dominance issues with other critters. Some birds will pull out their feathers. Some mammals will pull out their fur. Stress can be terribly destructive.
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mybiddness
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posted on April 3, 2001 11:36:41 PM new
Hi Meya, Quite a few years ago I worked at a Psychiatric Institute. There was a young girl of about 19 years old that was a regular patient. The girl was covered in self-mutilation scars - especially up and down her arms... but they were everywhere. In her case there was an underlying chemical imbalance that was made worse by an abusive relationship with both of her parents. But, every case is different and the most important thing is for the parents to seek professional help in discovering the underlying causes.
My advise would be to tell them to be extremely careful in evaluating which psychiatrist or mental health practitioner that they take their daughter to. Parents in this kind of situation often feel so helpless that they will latch on to any kind of relief. I was absolutely shocked while working at the institute to see the difference in treatment methods - and results. I still remember one psychiatrist in particular that I typed summaries for. For the entire two years I typed his reports every single patient he saw was diagnosed with the label "latent homeosexual." What are the chances of that? Unbelievable!
Just tell them to check out the psychiatrist as closely as they would any other doctor.
Not paranoid anywhere else but here!
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spazmodeus
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posted on April 3, 2001 11:58:28 PM new
For the entire two years I typed his reports every single patient he saw was diagnosed with the label "latent homeosexual."
ROFLMAO! Scary and disturbing, but funny as hell.
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snowydays
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posted on April 4, 2001 12:41:44 AM new
[ edited by snowydays on Apr 4, 2001 01:52 PM ]
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snowydays
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posted on April 4, 2001 12:44:18 AM new
No need to say it twice.
[ edited by snowydays on Apr 4, 2001 12:46 AM ]
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Linda_K
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posted on April 4, 2001 05:58:14 AM new
Morning Meya - Our only experience with this was when a teenage daughter of some friends of ours started pulling her hair out...in clumps. She'd have patches of baldness here and there, and of course scabs where the scalp had bled and was healing.
They had such a hard time understanding why she would do this. She was a very loved, wanted and well cared for child. Straight A student, etc. They tried dealing with it on their own for a while, then turned to counseling. It took three to four years before she (the teenaged girl) was able to share that while she loved her parents, she hadn't been able to deal with the stress she experienced because she 'looked' so very different than her white American parents and brother. It was something that was causing her enormous emotional pain.
I hope your friends seek counseling immediately.
gravid Excellent site.
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ypayretail
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posted on April 4, 2001 08:24:06 AM new
All of the advice has been excellent. It happens much more with girls than boys. It can be organic, controlling stress, chemical balance or depresssion.
Definitely seek advice from someone with experience with this type of behavior. A good start would be to call a suicide hotline and explain the cutting/self mutilation habits and where would they refer someone to. You can also call a trauma center at your local hospital and see if they have a referrals.
Most trauma centers/suicide centers etc. have doctors that are specialistis in these type of behaviors listed as referrals.
Good luck - - - - If she is telling the parents what she is doing that is a good sign and a definite call out for help. They should also talk to the school counselor in general - how is she doing etc.
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jtland
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posted on April 4, 2001 09:24:16 AM new
I have an old high school friend who does that. She has bi-polar disease (manic/depressive).
Lisa
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virakech
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posted on April 4, 2001 02:13:57 PM new
I seem to remember also that the cutting allows the person to 'feel' something. A person who's feeling are repressed, either by their upbringing or by other factors, can feel the pain of cutting and it's comforting.
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mzalez
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posted on April 5, 2001 12:19:26 AM new
A woman I worked with a few years ago did that. She would come in to work with a big bloody bandage on her arm. She told me she cut chunks out of her arm with a razor blade, and that she was diagnosed with a borderline personality. When she wasn't taking her medication the way she was supposed to, she would mutilate herself. I often wonder what ever happened to her.
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yeager
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posted on April 5, 2001 01:09:31 AM new
Self Abuse may also include burning and brusing oneself. Here is a link to a page with this information.
http://www.palace.net/~llama/psych/fwhat.html
[ edited by yeager on Apr 5, 2001 01:10 AM ]
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tarisa
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posted on April 5, 2001 01:16:30 AM new
[ edited by tarisa on Apr 5, 2001 08:49 AM ]
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gravid
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posted on April 5, 2001 08:02:43 PM new
Reminds me of the movie Lawrence of Arabia.
He calmly puts out the candle with his finger tips and a fellow watching him tries and burns himself. He yelps and says OK - What is the trick?
Lawrence says - the trick is not to care....
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