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Secret Scars: The Dangers of Cutting(December 08, 2007) -- SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- A secret epidemic is spreading among teens. It's more common than ADHD, eating disorders and steroid use. I'm talking about self-injuring. Kids hurt themselves and claim it makes them feel better.
"It was just like slice, slice, slice, slice, slice there was about 15 cuts," said Sara Cravey. "I had a protractor and I just kind of dug into my skin to where it just started bleeding," Jayme Badoud, a college sophomore said. "I had felt guilty, so I cut myself. I know it has to do with a lot of guilt and a lot of anger, a lot of hurt," said Cravey. Cravey and Badoud both know the pain of cutting. Using a Bic razor, Cravey started hurting her self when she was just six years old. "I was so embarrassed about it I got a tattoo over it, because it was my first scar. It was ugly," said Cravey. Now, the scars run from her neck to her feet. But where the tattoos don't cover, you can see how deep her pain goes. "I made myself ugly, because I felt ugly on the inside," said Cravey. She's not alone. One in five teens have cut or burned themselves. This is the highest rate of self-injury ever, and there's no one reason teens do it. Badoud started cutting after losing her grandmother. She started hurting herself hoping to help herself. "I felt like I could breathe," Badoud said. "The pain is actually coming out of you, you know it's just flowing out," said Cravey.
Child psychologist Lisa Boesky says these kids don't want to die; this is how they deal with overwhelming emotions. Child psychologist Lisa Boesky says these kids don't want to die; this is how they deal with overwhelming emotions. "For a lot of these kids, they'll say that the physical pain is a lot easier to deal with than their emotional pain," said Boesky. "Kids who self-injure will say this is a life sustaining behavior. This actually makes them feel better and helps them feel a live." But now, cutting is turning into a dangerous trend, glamorized by Hollywood stars, the movies and websites. "It's kind of a popularity and trendy thing among some circles," Boesky said. Signs your teen may be cutting -- if they begin to wear long sleeves and long pants all the time. Some girls will wear a big string of bracelets to cover up their arms -- orange and white bracelets signify they're a self-injurer. Check household objects -- safety pins, paper clips or staples may have blood on them. And if you do think there is a problem, don't focus on the cutting. "Parents really need to find out what's going on underneath, why is their daughter doing this?" Boesky said. Twenty-two days before she was interviewed, Cravey almost died. She accidentally cut a vein in her wrist. "It scared me so bad, that I would like to say, that I will never cut again," said Cravey. Because Cravey knows, she may not get another chance. "You play with it and you're playing with fire, and then it finally hits you 'cause it will, because the average cutter like me, lives only 6 years, from when they begin cutting," said Cravey. "It's not worth it to me anymore for me because I don't want to die." Research: SELF-INJURY: The secret epidemic among today's teens is finally coming out in the open. It's more common than ADHD, eating disorders, and steroid use. Statistics show that 1 in 5 to 1 in 10 teenagers has cut or burned their skin in order to feel better. This is the highest rate of self-injury ever. These teens typically cut or carve their arms, wrists, legs, chest, or stomachs with razor blades, knives, scissors, staples, paper clips, broken glass, or protractors -- some require stitches and medical care. Most teens purposely hide self-injury from their family, so parents are often completely unaware. GETTING HELP: Cutting is a serious and dangerous condition that should be taken seriously, and not ignored. The following tips might help you stop the cycle, but if you feel you need professional help, then do not be ashamed to seek it! In addition to steps you can take towards self-healing, you'll also find a list of helpful sites.
Source: Ivanhoe Newswire Last updated 12/07 Related Information:
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