Why Are So Many Teens Cutting Themselves?
Cutting is a form of self-harm that is increasing in the adolescent population. Both males and females use cutting as a way to reduce unwanted emotions like anxiety, anger, sadness, and tension. Adolescents cut when they want to escape a difficult situation and as a way of expressing distress. Some use cutting as a way to punish themselves due to guilt.
Parents don’t always understand teens who self-harm
As a parent to a Long Island teen, finding out your child has used cutting can be shocking and confusing. It is important to remember that cutting is not the same as a suicide attempt. However, people with a long history of self-harm are at greater risk of suicide attempts, so self-harm behaviors must be taken seriously. Cutting and other self-harm behaviors should be viewed as a sign that a person is in emotional pain and in need of a more effective way to deal with their emotions.
(Read: Why Do People Self Harm?)
Teens choose self-harm to deal with common problems such as arguments with parents, school difficulties, issues with friends, significant others, siblings, physical health issues, depression, bullying, low self-esteem, sexual problems, and alcohol and drug abuse. Some parents find that their teen has talked with others about self-harm on social media sites or read people’s blogs related to the topic. There is an abundance of information about self-harm available to teens and the information on the internet is mixed with messages that both encourage self-harm and discourage self-harm and try to offer support. Suffolk DBT can help you understand the warning signs of cutting on Long Island and what you can do to help.
Warning Signs Your Teen is Using Self-Harm
- Unexplained frequent injury including cuts or burns
- Wearing long pants and sleeves in warm weather
- Low self-esteem
- Difficulty handling feelings
- Relationship problems
- Poor functioning at school or home
As a Parent – What The Heck Do I Do?
If you are a parent with a teen who has used self-harm, don’t panic! Strong emotions can get in the way of being effective at communicating. Find a time to talk to your teen about what you have observed, rather than assuming you know the whole story. For example “I noticed you have been wearing long sleeves and its summer. You also have been staying in your room and not engaging with us? Have you been cutting?”
Teens who use cutting as a coping strategy may not express themselves easily and may be looking for any excuse not to open up. Do your best to listen to what they have to say, without telling them what to do, how to feel, or offering your judgment about their behaviors. Let them know you care about them and that you are going to find help.
If the child you’re concerned about is technically an adult (18+), do the same rules still apply? How can you help them? Read: Supporting Your Adult Child through Depression
DBT is a Highly Effective Treatment for Teens Who Self Harm
In Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), the clinician works with the client to identify the triggers of the self-harm behaviors so that the client can better understand them and then change them. Once these behaviors are better understood, the clinician and client work to develop alternative behaviors. The clinician works with the family to change their interactions with their teen as necessary using interpersonal effectiveness skills and specifically Validation.
What is DBT?
DBT teaches both behavior change and acceptance.
- Distress Tolerance: Teens who cut typically have difficulty tolerating distressing thoughts and emotions, so learning to tolerate, rather than trying to change an emotion through cutting, is a powerful skill.
- Mindfulness: DBT teaches mindfulness, which helps a person live in the present and appropriately perceive thoughts and actions of themselves and those around them to reduce anxiety and depression.
- Emotional Regulation: DBT helps teens regulate their emotions through naming them, feeling them fully without trying to bypass them, by creating more opportunities for positive feelings, and through reducing their vulnerability to negative emotions.
- Interpersonal Effectiveness: Finally, DBT helps them open up, both through DBT skills group and individual therapy, and through interpersonal effectiveness skills that keep them on track and focused in emotionally charged conversations.
If you are located in or near Long Island or Manhattan, CBT and DBT services can be found at Suffolk DBT. If you need someone to talk to, fill out our contact form or call us at (631) 828-2264 today.
Suffolk DBT proudly provides quality dialectical behavior therapy, a form of cognitive behavioral therapy, at their offices in Manhattan and Long Island, New York and online. Their experienced therapists specialize in serving teens, children, adults, and college students struggling with depression, borderline personality disorder, eating disorders, and self-harm. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills and treatment can help you or your kids to manage emotions and work through life’s challenges. Suffolk DBT Manhattan and Long Island offer a free screening call so you can get started right away.