by April J.

Created on: October 19, 2009   Last Updated: November 11, 2009

"Self-mutilation" or "cutting" is a serious warning sign of extreme emotional struggles in a young person's life, and it should always be taken very seriously. This article will explore why some teens start to cut, and how a parent can help a teen deal with this behavior when they find out that it is going on.

WHY DOES SELF-MUTILATION HAPPEN?

Cutting is a symptom of something very difficult going on in a young person's life and is usually an expression of a feeling of profound hopelessness and lack of control. Young people who cut usually do so because they feel that there is so much emotional pain in their life that is inflicted by forces they are powerless to stop, that they would prefer to distract themselves with a less complex kind of pain that they can control themselves. A teen who self-mutilates may temporarily feel better because of the distraction, and because of endorphins released by the brain in response to the pain. The behavior can in some cases become a compulsion that is then difficult for the teen to stop, or can be the precursor to more serious self-harm and even suicide attempts if the cause of the problem is not dealt with.

Cutting is a complex behavior that can result from many sources, but the underlying cause is usually a perceived lack of control and inability to stop some kind of pain. This could be pain due to abuse or bullying, social problems at school, stress etc. If no external causes are present, the problem could be internal. Depression can change the brain chemistry of a young person in ways that can lead to feelings of powerlessness and hopelessness, and can lead to these types of behaviors as a result.

SIGNS A TEEN IS SELF-MUTILATING

In most social groups, cutting is not considered an acceptable behavior and, because of this, most teens will try to hide the signs, especially from parents and other authority figures. Signs that a teen is cutting can include things like wearing long sleeves even when it is warm out, mysterious scratches or scars, and unexplained bandages. The teen may show reluctance to answer questions about these things, brush it off with a vague excuse, or become defensive when asked about it. Sometimes, friends of the teen may express concern about the teens well-being.

FIND OUT WHY

The first step in helping your teen to deal with this behavior is to find out the underlying cause that is leading them to do it, so the first step is to speak to them to try to get more information. Because of its taboo nature,

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