Cutting / Question
Published: July 19, 2003
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I'm 15 and I've been cutting for almost 6 months, I did it a few times at first for a few stupid reasons partially because I was feeling ignored. At first it was hard to do it and I'd feel really guilty about it. Now I do it a few times a week without any reason at all. I never cut my arms or wrists because people would see it. I only cut my ankles and feet, so its not like I could slip and kill myself or anything. It says in some of the other responses that you need to get to the root of why you cut and solve that first, but I don't really have a reason, I used to have reasons but I don't anymore, now I just do it when I'm annoyed or feeling out of it, or even just when I'm bored, I'll sit there and cut my foot with a piece of broken mirror absent mindedly, just sort of feeling the pain for the hell of it. I don't know why I do it, but I do still feel guilty about it sometimes, I do want to stop and I hate not being able to run around without shoes on for fear of someone seeing it. I CAN'T tell my parents, I really really can't, there's just no way. But I want to stop... do you know any Internet groups on this sort of thing or something that could help? Because I think I need help, but I can't tell anyone I know.
Signed: I Need Help, But Can't Tell Anyone
Dear I Need Help, But Can't Tell Anyone,
TeenHealthFX is glad that you recognize that you need to stop this behavior - whatever the underlying reason is. It is true that often a behavior that starts for one reason is continued for other reasons. Therapy with a mental health professional can help you understand why you are continuing cutting behavior even you want to stop and it leaves you feeling guilty.
You do not say why you cannot tell your parents - to get professional help you will have to inform them. Most parents have their children's best interests at heart - they want their children to be healthy and happy. You can show them your question and our answer to start a conversation with them and let them know you want help. You can also talk to another trusted adult and let them approach your parents for you.
An online resource for cutting is Self Abuse Finally Ends (S.A.F.E.) To find mental health resources in your area, log onto US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration's (SAMSHA) website for resources in your area. If you live in northern New Jersey, you can call Atlantic Behavioral Health's ACCESS Center at 800.247.1400.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
The teen pregnancy rate in the United States is the highest of any industrialized democracy, nearly twice that of Great Britain and 10 times that of Japan. 
