Cutting / Question
Published: January 15, 2003
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I am worried about myself, latley, I have had the urge to slit my wrists, and I often do, but now more then ever.. the other day, I took a knife and cut across, and just let it bleed.. But the weird thing is I have never felt like this untill I met my best friend who often talks about killing herself. But I think I need help.. I may end up being a cutter, which I wouldnt mind.. but I dont know i think i might have a serious problem. please help me before I really do kill myself. Sighned Worried about myself.
Signed: Urge To Slit Wrists
Dear Urge To Slit Wrists,
It seems to TeenHealthFX that your friend's bouts with suicidal ideation seem to have triggered some underlying issues in you that have led to you cutting yourself. In order to get help, you will have to uncover the inner issues that led to the cutting behavior. While your friend's behavior may have influenced you, chances are she did not cause you to feel this way.
TeenHealthFX is concerned that you "wouldn't mind" if you "end up being a cutter." This statement indicates that you are more interested in being control of the cutting then eliminating it completely. This is not possible because cutting is an irrational act people do when they are in distressed situations or in reaction to trauma. Most people cut when they are in significant emotional turmoil as a way of relieving stress and anxiety. If the emotional turmoil gets too great then there is a strong chance that the wounds inflicted could be much more serious or life threatening. It seems that you may have already experienced this situation.
Again, if you want to stop this behavior, then you need to find out what drives you to cut. Identifying the problem and/or developing healthier ways to cope with stress, anger or anxiety, can help relieve the need to cut yourself. Even if the cutting behavior is part of an obsessive/compulsive disorder there are medications and behavioral treatments that can be very effective. A therapist can help you overcome this.
TeenHealthFX thinks it would be a good idea to let your parents know what you have been experiencing let them know you need their help and support. If they have trouble comprehending your situation let them know that you do not understand it completely yourself and this is why you need the help of a therapist. As you go through the therapeutic process many of the unknowns will become clearer.
If at any point you feel you may act on your suicidal thoughts, or are afraid of your impulses, you need to seek help right away. You can call 911 or report to your nearest hospital emergency room for immediate assistance. In northern New Jersey you can call the Crisis Hotline at Morristown Memorial Hospital at 973-540-0100. In that same region you can also get help finding a psychiatrist or therapist by calling the Access Center from Atlantic Behavioral Health at 888-247-1400.
For some additional information about self-injury you can check this link: Self-Abuse Finally Ends (S.A.F.E.). Also use the search feature on the TeenHealthFX to learn more about "cutting."
Signed: TeenHealthFX
Freshmen bring an average of $1,585.00 in credit card debt to college.
