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A Cut Above
The Practice of Self-Mutilation
By Carma Haley Shoemaker
"I wish I had answers for other people," Smith says. "It's easy to say clich豠like 'keep the channels of communication open,' and that's fine if it's a two-way street. The only thing I could suggest is obviously checking the resources available. People should go for at least one crisis visit with a psychologist. Talk to somebody who knows about this. Pay for the time, sit down with them for one or two sessions and help yourself, as a parent, not to be an enabler."
These behaviors are not attempts at suicide. They are attempts to gain control over life. "Self-mutilating behaviors, as well as eating disorders, drug or alcohol use and extreme violent behavior are all cries for help," Paul says. "These kids are saying, 'I don't know what to do, so this is what I do instead. And don't try to take it away from me because it is all I have.' There is no place where we learn how to manage our intense fear, anxiety, hurt, anger, depression or whatever the feeling is. There is no one place that teaches that. A person must find a method that works for them. Whether spiritual meditation, breathing or something else that helps an adolescent manage inner stress, having the equipment to deal or cope is the first step in gaining control."
*Name changed to protect privacy.