Being a teen today is more difficult than ever before.  If your teen is dealing with a personal tragedy or trauma, they may experience feelings which are tough to express, and may not feel like they have an outlet for those feelings.
One increasingly common outlet that teens are using as a release of bad feelings is cutting. The experts at Kids Health say teens may feel that cutting gives them relief from strong feelings of anger, desperation, sadness or loneliness.
Teens should know that there are much better ways to deal with these feelings, and as a parent or friend, there are things you can do to help your teen work through the pain and suffering of cutting. If you or someone you know is cutting, the experts at Kids Health recommend these few steps to get help in targeting the issues leading to cutting.
- Tell someone. Choose someone you trust, like a parent or school counselor, who you can talk to about cutting. This may be the hardest step, but may also be a great relief.
- Identify the trouble that’s causing the emotional pain. You may have trouble figuring this part out by yourself, and might need to speak with a professional who can help you understand the causes of these feelings.
- Ask for help. Sometimes adults downplay a teen’s problems as a phase, but talk to a school counselor or a nurse who can help make your case for you.
- Work on it. Most people who have experienced trauma or deep emotional pain need to work with a counselor or mental health professional to learn to cope with the pain. Try to find a therapist or counselor though your doctor’s office, school, or mental health clinic in your area.
Check out the Kids Health site for some more advice on how you can work on releasing some of that tension through other means than cutting.
13 Comments on "Helping Your Teen Cope With The Pain Of Cutting"
Jennifer
I was a cutter because I was never able to express my feelings when I was younger. I was cutting myself up too the age of 20 I am now 30 years old and I still get the feelingd and when I do I call the local numbers in my area to talk to someone it helps sometimes the person on the other end has been threw what I am going threw and sometimes thay dont understand. So if you ever feel like cutting your self there are numbers and you can be kept annymous and safe from cutting yourself. So just rember that you love yourself and that someone out there is feeling your pain also keep your head up and smile and you will learn that your pain is my pain.
Tasha
I still do it im 17 and iv been doing it since i was 15 my whole life depends on it. Everytime something horrible happens my mind jumps to that, i hate it and want to stop but i just cant its my addiction =( Im getting help but so far it hasn’t worked
mona miller
I am a mother of a 16 yr old young lady that tells ma she cuts herself. When I look at the areas they appear to be small scratches. How does a parent know its serious problem or a cry for attention? My daughter and I have a close relationship, I dont know what would make her act out in such a way.Help.
allyn
mona- a cry for help is serious.try and help your daughter and if you are not able-ask for more help.you don’t want that small scratch to end up being a bloody mess where your baby dies..
and to tasha, have you tried getting your feling out through writing or some other way? i used to cut too and sometimes you have to find a way to express your feelings through writing, drawing, whatever it may be, before it is too late.i know you feel a release when you do it- but i almost died. please think of another way to express everything you can’t through talking.think of things that make you smile, and try to focus on that..
billy
for all you people out there in life stop cutting yourself. plz we all know the hold world going in the dumps but hurting yourself is not going to make it any better. just have faith in the good lord.
billy
and for people that really need help call someone
about cutting yourself. i know life can be hard to life
but hurting yourself is not the way to go you not just hurting yourself your hurting your family to. because when people look at you with all them cuts on your body people stop and think did he or she do it her self or what. if you ever need to talk to someone get the bible and read psalm 23:1-6. the lord is on your side. all you have to do is ask for help and forgives for all your sins and have the lord come in to your hart.
billy
god bless people
britany
hi name is britany and for about 4 yrs know i was cutting like hard core cutter i used to cut of pain and everything that was going on with my life at the time it really hard to deal life as a tennagers thruth me it was hard to deal with lfe but know im 21 years old and i havent cut very since because i got the proper help that i need it i had my friends and my close family to help me through the hard time and the good times too.
juloe
hi. my son started cutting this year and im trying to find out what i can do to help him
i have had him in counseling and even temporarily6 in a hospital. Do u7 have any suggestions that could help me . He is 17 years old and and going through tough teen age years. Thank you
Paula
hey i’ve been a cutter since the age of 12 i am now 16 and i want to stop but i cant i have been in a facility for it and i do still hang with friends but i pretty much put on a face for everyone io write poetry but not as much i just don’t seem real happy anymore what should/could i do?
Freya
hi my name is Freya n i started cutting this year n i have stopped 4 1 moth.i dont know how to get rid of the scar. my bff4l told me to stop so i did.my whole familey knows now.i have been depressed since i was 2 my mom n dad died i need help some1 save me.email me SOME1 PLZ.
natalie
I started cutting when I was 13, I stopped at 16, and at 24 I am still scarred, I still have to wear long sleeved shirts. Every scar reminds me of a different pain. At the time, it may help with the pain and sadness your feeling, but those are growing pains and they go on their own, most people don’t even remember them, but I do, every tim I look in the mirror. jus remember that pain goes away, but scars are forever. do u really want to be reminded, everyday for the rest of your life. stop now
Lori
Mona Even scratches are serious. And a cry for attention means she needs it seriously. Thank the Lord she came to you. I didn’t have a Mom to go to she didn’t want to know. I thought that was the only way to get through a situation. Then I felt the relief it caused and I was almost too good … so please I promise you will be ok and get through this without it! Allyn’s advice is good. Write a journal of what hurts so much, write some steps to act on to get through it in a better way, write a book about it to help others, go work out, a good one is to go talk to someone. Start by saying “Even though have.. sadness, pain, hurt, be specific .. I deeply and completely accept and love myself. (Look in the mirror and say it) and even if I (got snubbed, am failing at school, your situation). I still accept me, and love me. telling yourself this over and over write it. Say “completely and deeply” with conviction. Keep at it and know you are loved you need to love yourself. Don’t give in to the desire to cut you are not really releiving the pain your mind is just telling you wrong. So repeat your statement over and over even if you don’t believe it do it and call someone to talk to. The scars will be with you forever make sure you take love for yourself with you through life instead!
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