What is this country coming to when teenagers are lead to slit their wrist and turn to weed when they need a release from the world? For so long I've ignored it and watched as my friends come to school covering their carved arms. Cutting is a horrible disease that so many teenagers have fallen into.
And the worst part is that it's all they know to do. I can't speak for everyone but one of my very good friends just came to school today, told me he had a bad weekend and showed me his wrist. They were scrapped and red and looked like he had tried to claw them out with a razor. I asked him what was wrong but he wouldn't say. Now I'm not one to try and pry info out of people unless I'm really worried about them, but I pried and questioned him yet he wouldn't bust. He is such a good person and a great friend and it kills me to know that he does this to himself all because he thinks it will make him feel better.
He isn't alone though. I remember back in middle school we use to read these magazines in health class that talked about kids who cut their wrist when they felt sad or lonely. I don't know first hand what it feels like to cut, but I certainly know what it's like to be hurt or lonely or feel like you're alone in the world. But there are so many other ways to get through it without hurting yourself. Sometimes you just need to be alone for a while, or some people need to be around a bunch of others, or sometimes just screaming into your pillow or balling while you scribble in your diary will do it. There has to be a better way than cutting. I just really wish I could convince my friend of that, I know for a fact that he has faced a lot in his life, more than I could imagine, and I really worry about him and everyone I know who cuts.
To help you understand this a little bit better there are a number of reasons why people cut and it is not just being sad and lonely. I used to do it so I know. People that have been raped or abused come into this behavior because they tend to feel like they should be punished and everything is their fault. Another reason is some people do it for attention. My friend used to do it for attention. Most the time these people have a hard time crying so it is some what a metapor for crying is cutting. People tend to feel better when they do this. I never did because I did it to punish myself. It is a good idea to be worried about them. But I don't really know what to tell you to help them to stop. I stopped on my own so I really don't know. Maybe some of them might need to seek help for their problems that they have had in life. A psycriatrist NOT a psychologist. I would try to talk to them that may help. eventually they should talk to you about their problems if they are not now. If they don't then i'm not sure. I hope this helped a little bit.
thanks, I've tried talking to him before and it never really works, but hopefully he will learn to stop on his own like you did. It's just so sad to see these people I really care about hearting themselves and know I can't chance it. :(
A wise man once said "I don't know ask a girl."
*Emily*
About people who do it for attention - they shouldn't be dismissed, either. If they're so desperate they're hurting themselves, they are obviously not receiving the attention they need for a very serious problem, and they're crying out for help in the only way they know how. It's very rare for someone to do it to merely be the center of attention for no good reason, i.e., "attention whores".