by Russell Waldron

Created on: October 25, 2009

Statistics on teen cutting are very scarce as not many studies have been done on this particular topic, yet broad estimates guess that approximately one percent of the U.S population exhibit some type of self harm. This percentage pans out to between 2 -3 million people. More enlightening is the fact that teen cutting is on the rise and that teens who do not have treatment will definitely continue this behaviour right into adulthood.

Treatment for teens who self harm have doubled over the last three years and this number is expected to grow as the worries of the world increases. Thus as life becomes more complicated for teens, cutting could soon become a lethal epidemic. So what is the profile of a cutter/self injurer?

The profile of a cutter looks somewhat like this. He/she is relatively intelligent, comes from a middle or upper-class home and is usually well educated. The cutter has either been abused, physically or sexually at one stage in their lives or neglected in reference to parental love. At times the cutter comes from a dysfunctional family with at least one parent who is an alcoholic or drug user. The cutter can often be the middle child who feels that their other siblings are favoured over them. The cutter can also be a teen who struggles within the educational system, is bullied and so forth.

So what do I do if I discover that my teen is a cutter?

Parents who discover that their child is cutting will definitely go into a state of shock. They will often blame themselves for their child's inner turmoil. While self blame could be warranted at times, this is not going to help your child recover. Therapists even state that you may as well forget about laying the blame at your own feet, your child needs your help not your confessions.

Cutting shows evidence of deep underlying emotional disturbances. Your goal is not to order your child to stop cutting, yours is to seek treatment, to find out what inner turmoil your child is harbouring. Your child needs guidance in reference to increasing their coping skills and self esteem. Many cutters have spoken to the author's partner who has counselled children who engage in self harm. Asked why they cut, many teens have responded with, My hurt is deep, I am trying to cut the hurt away from my body. When the pain of my cutting hits home, the pain of my inner turmoil is replaced with a different type of pain which I can actually relate to easier.

If this makes little sense to you, think of a toothache, which most

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